Michael John Dunn UK artist
Michael John Dunn was a UK artist with a BA, born in 1940 and he sadly passed away in 2011.
- Daliesque art aficionado
- Artist & mariner
- Contemporary abstract artist
- Degree in Fine Art & Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Art.
Artist with the same name
Michael John Dunn was born in London, England in the 1940. (Not to be confused with the other identically named artist on the internet, the American ‘Michael Dunn’ who was born and raised in Fargo, North Dakota who attended North Dakota State College of Science).
Mad Uncle Mike
Our own London Mike went to various schools around London finished up with a degree in fine art & graphic design at Camberwell College of Art in London, England. Anyway to me he was just my dad’s younger brother, “Mad Uncle Mike”. A free spirit who went to music festivals, painted and sailed the seven seas!
Army years
Mike Dunn was in the British Army in a tank regiment. He served in Germany in the BAOR in the early 1960s. Being an tank driver it was only natural that Mike liked machines and intrinsically knew how they worked. Mike Dunn loved motorcycles, that carried on throughout his years, covering many brands like; BSA, Honda through to BMW.
Merchant Navy years
After leaving the army Mike Dunn (also known as Mick Dunn) joined the Merchant Navy, where he remained until retirement.
His sea voyages took him all over the world. This is reflected in his paintings. On retirement Mike Dunn decided to settle in Norfolk. He had many relations scattered around that county so it made good sense.
Some of the ships Michael sailed on.
- STP Longbow
- Havila Star
- Havila Sun
- Havila Tigris
- Anvil Point
- Hurst Point
- Arklow rose
- Sir Galahad
- Midnight Merchant
- Monarch
Art takes over
Mike’s passion in life was the painting of his pictures as series of surrealist scenes based on his own experiences. Major works of art which in many cases took him years to complete. Buy a postcard set of these paintings from me direct. See my own designs designs here.
This was his main spare time occupation from his home studio. On many voyages his easel and art equipment went to sea with him. The most important work covered a surreal vision of the world of shipping and nautical themes related to his many voyages.
Salvador Dali’s work was a great influence to this London born British painter. His output of this style is evident in his larger wall covering oil painted canvases.
Mike had a great love for life and embraced many different world music styles.
Artist’s statement
To convey natural energy movement I paint an organic flowing style giving the subject a surreal, expressive abstraction. My large oils are painted in this style of much flowing energy and movement. Many are nautical in character and theme. These highly expressive paintings are full of semi-visionary images influenced to a degree by the sea, the basic imagery is overlaid with imagined scenes that suggest a world below the surface. There are 8 surrealist or Daliesque pictures all on a canvas size: 1.75m x 1.35m. Nearly 6 feet.
Solo exhibitions
2007 Great Yarmouth Library, Norfolk
2000 Coffee Brewer Street, London
2000 Beach Blanket Babylon, Notting Hill
2000 Church Street, Kensington, London
1999 Spitz Gallerys, Spitalfield, London
1999 Cafe Des Amis, Covent Garden
1998 Ruthessex, Chelmsford Library
1996 Southend Library, Essex
African Experience. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Back and Forth. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Anchorman. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Cableman. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
No more standbys. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Reflections. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Rope canvas and wood. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.
Tankerman. Copyright Michael Dunn 1995. Large original painting oil on canvas.