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Peter Spens painting court side at the Rio Olympics 2016

Peter Spens CV

Artist & Director of Cranley Gallery, 3 Cranley Gardens, London N10 3AA

Date of birth: 24th March 1961

I started painting in the autumn term of lower sixth (September 1977) and by half term I had given up the idea of training as an architect in favour of art school. I have painted on the spot ever since.

So much to celebrate through painting and it remains the most fascinating and challenging activity.

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Training & Practice

2026

Start of Verbier series

Commission City of Limassol, Cyprus

Painted Syracuse Sicily

2025-26Millbank Tower series (outside at 370 ft)
2025

Hampstead Heath series ongoing since 2007

Cornwall series ongoing since 2008; Camel Estuary, Rinsey, Trevone, Church Cove, Lizard

Isle of Wight series ongoing since 2000; Whitecliff Bay, Bembridge, Culver Down

2024FIVB Commission, Beach Volleyball, Paris Olympics, Eiffel Tower Stadium
2023-25Series of paintings for the Marathasa Winery in Cyprus
2023-24San Francisco and Carmel series
2022-25Commissions in Luminiana region of northern Tuscany
2021-22Tapestry Balcony, Granary Square series
2020

National Army Museum commission and Hampstead Heath lockdown paintings

Arsenal v Chelsea: FA Cup Final, empty Wembley August 2020

2019Painted in New Zealand
2018-19Series of Debate Drawings, House of Commons, Westminster
2017FIVB Commission World Championships, Danube Island, Vienna
2017-18Brettenham House series (north west corner of Waterloo Bridge)
2016FIVB Commission, Rio Olympics, Copacabana Beach
2015Roof of King’s College series
2012-14

Artist in residence at Cheltenham Racecourse (Corporate Sponsor 2014 show)

Horse Guards series, London Olympics 2012, Trooping the Colour, Beating Retreat

2012-13Thames Pageant (4th June 2012) part of Queen Street Place series
2011-14Millbank Tower series (outside at 370 ft)
2011Hong Kong series (including Lippo Building and HSBC)
2010Creation of Cranley Gallery and Cranley studio
2007Tate Modern series
2006

Stephenson Harwood commission, St Paul’s from the roof of 1 St Paul’s Churchyard

Land Securities commission, Trafalgar Square from 5 Strand series

2005First 80 Strand series (Second series 2009-10)
2004-05HSBC, 40th Floor, Canary Wharf
2002-03Riverside House series
2002Painted from Bracken Room, Financial Times, Southwark Bridge
2001-04Vertigo Bar, Tower 42 series
1999-02Shell Tower
1999-00Canada House night paintings, commissioned by Crown Estates
1998-99Large Thames paintings commenced from Andersen Consulting and Kings Reach Tower
1998-08Highbury Fields series
1998-00New York, Long Island & Greenwich Village commissions
1996>Established London studio and start of the Thames series
1989-00Established studio the Drôme, Southern France working on monotype and landscape series
1987-89Taught life drawing at St. Albans and Loughton Colleges
1986-88Gerry Underwood Jazz series
1985-86John Skeaping Scholarship: Saint Remy de Provence series
1984-85Studio in Bristol
1984Based in Quimper, painted Brittany series
1982Student Exchange to Luminy Université, Marseille
1980-85Periodic study in Florence, Sienna and Rome
1980-83University of West of England, Bristol, BA (Hons) Fine Art
1979-80Braintree College, Foundation Course in Art & Design
1974-79Taught by Brian Bevan at Newport Grammar School, Essex

One Man Shows

2025Travelling Light, Cranley Gallery, London
2022‘Charting Time’, Cranley Gallery, London
2020‘2020 vision’, Cranley Gallery, London
2018‘Human Lens’, Cranley Gallery, London
2016‘Active Reaction’, Cranley Gallery, London
2015‘running script’, Cranley Gallery, London
2014‘Grandstand: The Cheltenham and London Series’, Gallery 8, Duke Street, St James
2012‘Site Specific’, The Gallery in Cork Street, London
2011‘from mountains to sea’, Cranley Gallery, London
2010‘water, colour’, Air Gallery, Dover Street, London
2008‘Observatory’, Air Gallery, Dover Street, London
2007‘Paintings and Works on Paper’, Seven Bedford Row, London
2006‘Floating London’, Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London
2005‘Changing Formations’, Gallery 27, Cork Street
2003‘Open to the Sky’, Gallery 27, Cork Street
2001‘Skylines’, Gallery 27, Cork Street
2000‘Cities and the Sea’, Gallery 27, Cork Street
1996Mary Kleinman Gallery, London (Also 1997 & 1998)
1995Galerie de la Bonne Graine, Paris
1991Smith’s Gallery, Covent Garden, London (Also 1992 & 1993)
1989‘Peintures & Monotypes’, Centre Culturel de Carpentras
1988Spring Gallery, Sawbridgeworth
1987Rooksmoor Gallery, Bath
1985‘In Two Lights’, Guild Gallery, Bristol

Publications

2024‘Travelling Light’, ISBN 978-0-9544613-8-6, Cranley Gallery Ltd
2022‘Charting Time’, ISBN 978-0-9544613-7-9, Cranley Gallery Ltd
2018‘Human Lens’, ISBN 978-0-9544613-6-2, Cranley Gallery Ltd
2016‘Active Reaction’, ISBN 978-0-9544513-5-5, Cranley Gallery Ltd
2014‘Grandstand: The Cheltenham and London Series’, ISBN 978-0-9544613-4-8
2012‘Site Specific’, ISBN 978-0-9544613-3-1, Cranley Gallery Ltd
2010‘water, colour’, Air Gallery, ISBN 978-0-9544613-2-4, Peter Spens Fine Art Ltd
2008‘Observatory’, Air Gallery, ISBN 978-0-9544613-1-7, Peter Spens Fine Art Ltd
2006‘Floating London’, ISBN 1 902795 13 X, Guildhall Art Gallery Publications
2003‘Open to the Sky’, ISBN 0 9544613, Peter Spens Fine Art Ltd

Corporate Collections

  • Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London
  • ENT @ 150 Harley Street, London
  • BP Amoco, London
  • Shell International, London
  • Nationwide Building Society, London
  • Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London
  • Land Securities, London
  • Stephenson Harwood, London
  • Pearson, London
  • Horse Guards, London
  • SJ Berwin, London
  • Jardine Lloyd Thompson, London
  • Fédération Internationale de Volleyball, Lausanne
  • International Olympic Committee, Lausanne
  • IK Investment Partners, London
  • National Army Museum, London

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