Mike Bernard was born in 1957 in Dover, Kent. He trained at the West Surrey College of Art and Design followed by postgraduate studies at the Royal Academy Schools.

Mike Bernard creates highly textured semi-abstract paintings which are often produced in mixed media incorporating collage and acrylics. He also uses oil and watercolour.

Mike Bernard is a restless artist always looking for a new and on occasions an experimental approach to his contemporary paintings. He delights in capturing the mood of the West Country in particularly Devon and Cornwall. He has a recurrent interest in the fishing villages, and in contrast regularly depicts the warmth and glow of southern Italy.

Speaking about his paintings Mike Bernard says: "What attracts me most is the pattern of buildings, boats and similar features in a scene. I build a painting by putting in blocks of colour to develop a pattern which is pleasing to my eye in colours which are harmonious, bringing in feelings of spontaneity, freshness and freedom."

Mike Bernard has gained many art awards and prizes for his paintings, including the Stowells Trophy, the Elizabeth Greenshield Fellowship, Silver Longboat Award and Laing Award. He was elected a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours (RI) in 1997.

In addition to Red Rag British Art Gallery Mike Bernard art work has been exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries venues including the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions, Mall Galleries and the Royal Festival Hall. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Mike Bernard artist studio and like all Red Rag British art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.

Modern Art: Mike Bernard at Red Rag Gallery in Bath