Aldo Balding Artist CV
British artist Aldo Balding, born in Portsmouth in 1960, is widely recognised for his distinctive contribution to contemporary British figurative art. He studied at the Southampton College Faculty of Read more
Design, earning a diploma in illustration before embarking on a successful fifteen‑year career as a freelance illustrator and portrait painter. During this period, Aldo Balding produced work for major publications including Punch and The Sunday Times, as well as numerous leading advertising agencies. His portrait commissions included the 1996 Miss Pears winner, and his work was selected for the BP Portrait Awards at the National Portrait Gallery and exhibited at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters.
Aldo Balding is known for his cinematic, narrative‑driven paintings that place the viewer in the role of an impartial observer. His approach to British figurative painting focuses on capturing a single moment in time—much like a film still—often creating sequences of connected works that unfold like visual stories. His ‘conversation pieces’ explore shared human experiences, while his single‑figure compositions are more introspective, provocative and emotionally charged. Although his paintings maintain a timeless quality, Balding often incorporates classic clothing to emphasise character, masculinity and femininity.
Shape, form and body language are central to Aldo Balding’s artistic practice. Many of his compositions are inspired by the subtle patterns created through posture and gesture, revealing emotional nuance beyond spoken words. As he works, the personalities of his subjects evolve on the canvas, allowing imagined narratives to emerge organically. This dynamic process is key to Balding’s ability to capture atmosphere, mood and the complexity of human presence—qualities that define his reputation as a leading British artist.