Alan Cotton Hon. SWAc
Alan Cotton is one of Britain's most distinguished landscape painters with work in important collections in Europe and North America, including the Royal Collection. He has been represented internationally by Messum's Fine Art in Cork Street in the West End of London for the past twenty years, where he has annual exhibitions. He has undertaken a number of public commissions, including three large paintings for the Queen Mary II, for the Royal Marines, and for the Universities of Exeter and Southampton.
In 2005 Alan was honoured to accompany His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to Sri Lanka, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji as his Tour Artist. In 2006 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (D.Litt) by the University of Exeter for his 'outstanding contribution to the Arts' and in the Spring of 2011 was appointed the first Professor of Arts at the University of Bath.
In the year 2000 Alan was a founding member of the South West Academy and its President for the first six years. He has worked closely with many charities in a variety of ways, including organising auctions and donating paintings.
Devon - Hartland Breaking Waves, Oil
Piemonte - The Edge of the Vinyard, Oil
He has done much to support and promote Arts in the South West, particularly working with children, students and disabled painters. He is Patron and President of a number of art societies and for many years was a Director of the Exeter Phoenix Arts Centre and on the Fine Art Committee of the University of Exeter. Currently he is involved in fund raising activities with The Prince's Trust.
A biography Alan Cotton - On a Knife Edge by Jenny Pery was published by Halsgrove in 2003 and a new book Alan Cotton - Giving Life A Shape, also by Jenny Pery, was published in September 2010.
There have been a number of 30 minute television programmes about his work, shown both on BBC and ITV, and as a presenter and writer he has been involved in many arts films for BBC and Carlton Westcountry ITV. He has also done radio broadcasts over a number of years.
In April 2011 Alan will be travelling as the Expedition Artist to Mount Everest. He will be part of a team, lead by his friend, the explorer and adventurer, David Hempleman-Adams. Alan says: "I have always wanted to paint in high mountainous regions and for me this is a most thrilling adventure". The paintings of Everest and the surrounding landscape will be the main feature of his London Exhibition in 2012.
www.alancotton.co.uk
www.messums.com
