The Appleby Brothers

Ohibiting his work at the 2014 Wimbledon College of Arts BA graduation show.

We visit many of the art school graduation shows each year, and for many years Wimbledon had been a must-see, such was the standard and innovation of the painting on show. 2014 was no exception, in fact it was arguably one of the strongest years, then or since; it was there we first viewed Louis’ painting in the flesh, with that encounter leading us to work with him in the years which were to follow.

Louis’ work is highly individual, very personal and yet never obvious. There’s narrative there, but there’s also room for your own interpretation, your own narrative, one of the reasons Louis has often been guarded about his work.

A short few years later, Louis was to embark on a Masters degree at the Royal College of Arts (RCA), London. We continued to follow him there, in fact at that point we’d been showing his work for some time. Whilst themes remained, the uation show after two years at the RCA.

Alex is the younger brother, but for sure, no less talented. He followed Louis to Wimbledon, graduating in its final Art School year in the Summer of 2021. We viewed that graduation exhibition, the standard once again high, with Alex a standout; it was actually on that day we had the first thoughts of a joint Appleby Brothers exhibition. Since then, we’ve watched with interest as Alex has developed further; ideas moving on, palette, composition, subject, inspiration and execution all travelling forward, it’s truly exciting to have watched all of this happen.

So, here we are in 2023, those original thoughts of a joint exhibition, stood at Alex’s graduation show in 2021, now realised. Two artists relatively early in their careers, two very talented contemporary British painters at the forefront of a renaissance in British contemporary painting; we’re happy and proud to be part of that.

Steve and Christine