Darren Baker was born in 1976.
Baker attended Bradford Art College graduating in the summer of 1998. After graduation Darren exhibited in London and at the age of 23 was invited to exhibit his paintings at a UK millennium show in New York. In the same year Baker was appointed official artist of The Professional Footballer's Association (PFA).
Darren went onto produce an impressive art portfolio of contemporary portraits for sports clubs and personalities alike. Having developed a relationship with Huddersfield Town FC, Baker's creativity was stirred into painting a tribute image of ex-player Frank Worthington. Inspired by black and white photographs, Baker produced a portrait painting of one football's great characters.
Baker has subsequently worked alongside and produced contemporary paintings for other sporting personalities including: David Ginola, Peter Schmiechel, Henrik Larsson, Prince Naseem, Nigel Mansell Jonny Wilkinson and PFA Footballer of the Year portraits of John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Teddy Sheringham. Sporting clubs who have promoted his art include: Manchester United, Leeds United, Glasgow Celtic, Bradford City, Yorkshire Cricket, and Leeds Rhinos.
Other portraits completed by Darren Baker include HRH Prince Charles and Tony Blair which hang in St James Palace and Downing Street respectively. Darren has also completed contemporary paintings on a range of art subjects including: interiors, portraiture, figurative, equestrian, landscape, and ballet.
More recently Darren Baker has been asked to produce a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen to commemorate her 85th birthday
However it is Darren Baker's love for the 'still-life' that has started to attract critical praise. International Artist wrote: "Bathed in varying light conditions, Baker arranges and describes everyday objects with delicate sensitivity. They have a delicious attention to detail. Baker's paintings also suggest a human presence, the objects are seemingly left in a natural state yet are so artfully organised"
David Johnson of The Sunday Times has also commended his painting. He wrote:
'The Rustic Table' is a thrilling painting because it embodies that
wonderful magic of being two pictures in one: at close quarters the
mark of your pastel is so visible to the eye as to win admiration for
your deftness of touch; but as one moves back and the image sharpens to
what we might inadequately call "photographic" realism, the objects
within this seemingly "still" life vibrate no less than cubist forms,
with such intensity as to demand renewed viewing over and over again.
I observed that not only does it capture simultaneously the repose and intimacy of a traditional Dutch still
life, but it presents a showcase for
Darren's virtuosity'
Darren Baker is now one of leading painters within the British Art classical realism genre. Baker's technique and vision are the result of observation and inspiration from the Old Masters and contemporary realist painters.
Darren Baker has received numerous art awards including best artist at The Fine Art trade guild ceremony in London and The Garrick Prize, Christies, London. His contemporary paintings are increasingly sought after by International and British Art collectors and hang in both public and private art collections including those of: House of Lords, Downing Street and St James Palace.
In addition to Red Rag British Art Gallery Darren Baker art work has been exhibited at other leading British Art Galleries. Each painting at Red Rag is sourced from the Darren Baker artist studio and like all Red Rag British art and Contemporary art it can be shipped worldwide.
