Overview
Ben, born in 1986, experienced a childhood in Barnet, north London. Since his grandfather had introduced him to John Varley, the highly recognised 18th-Century watercolourist of the Varley lineage of the Jeffery family, Ben developed an enthusiastic fondness for art.
In secondary school, he realised that he was passionate about art. Along with a few of his peers, they would have friendly competitions to see who could draw the best portrait. The pleasure came from displaying their work to their classmates and seeing their reactions. Particularly memorable was the portrait of his father which he created for a mock GCSE project; it had everyone in the art class amazed.
More about Ben Jeffery
He pursued an Art degree, receiving plenty of support and counsel along the way. Although mostly self-taught, he had the chance to refine his skills at college and university; given a subject matter to explore, he would create portfolio pieces and develop ideas into final images. With no formal instruction on technique, he had the opportunity to become proficient through independent learning.
Ben had always been passionate about oil painting, and his peers were consistently awestruck by the detail and vibrancy of his creations. However, his teachers did not always warmly welcome such outcomes. Nevertheless, Jeffrey was determined to learn diverse methods and techniques in order to bring forth the mark making he sought. This led to a process of experimentation; over time, his unique style has taken shape.
Often, Ben's painting develops as he applies paint to the canvas. He has some sort of structure in mind, but also allows his brushstrokes to encourage improvisation in terms of shaping and colour selection. On other occasions, Jeffery envisions a particular image and quickly sketches it out.
Ben typically uses a two-stage approach when creating a piece: he first covers the canvas in base colours, and then adds further detail once these have dried. When his work is complete, he leaves it a day or so before returning to it; this allows him to identify any potential changes that need to be made.
His work is incredibly varied, encompassing both pencil and oils, from portraits to landscapes. He enjoys using rich colours to give his pieces a contemporary edge; he's also an avid fan of Sci-fi movies and special effects.
After Ben finished University, concept art for films and video games became his ambition. He tried digital painting but the depth of paint could not be replicated. To find more inspiration he browsed the internet for concept artwork and his parents' houses held remarkable views which never failed to give him ideas. The house in Herefordshire Countryside and the Isle of Harris were a constant source of motivation.