Clive Hicks-Jenkins

Introduction

Clive Hicks-Jenkins is widely regarded as one of the most distinctive visual artists working in Britain today. His oeuvre spans painting, drawing, printmaking, collage, artists’ books, and design for performance. What sets him apart is the cohesive imaginative world he has constructed over several decades: a visual language grounded in myth, folklore, biblical narrative, and the psychological landscapes of the human condition. His work is both contemporary and timeless, combining a modernist sensibility with the narrative clarity of medieval and early Renaissance art.

Hicks-Jenkins’ reputation has grown steadily, earning the respect of curators, critics, and fellow artists alike. His handling of form, staging, and character owes much to his first career in theatre and choreography, yet his mature visual art possesses a contemplative emotional resonance that is entirely his own.

Early Life and Background

Born in Newport, South Wales, in 1951, Clive Hicks-Jenkins grew up in a post-war environment marked by close-knit communities and a strong local culture of storytelling. Welsh landscape, language, and folklore would later become central to his work.

Although he showed artistic promise early on, his path into the arts did not begin with visual art. Instead, he gravitated towards theatre and dance—fields that would profoundly shape his later visual vocabulary. His sensitivity to gesture, staging, costume, and expressive movement all stem from this formative period.

Career in Theatre and Dance

Before devoting himself to visual art, Hicks-Jenkins had a distinguished career as a performer, choreographer, and director. He trained in dance and mime, later creating and directing productions for stage and television.

Key elements from his performance background that carried into his later artwork include:

• A choreographic understanding of bodies in space
• A theatre director’s grasp of narrative structure
• A designer’s sense of stylisation, colour, and mood
• The physicality of movement, gesture, and tableau

This grounding in performance gave his eventual paintings and drawings an unusual clarity of staging. Figures appear poised in theatrical tension, animals seem imbued with personality, and even his landscapes feel like constructed spaces in which stories unfold.

Transition to Visual Art

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hicks-Jenkins turned increasingly towards two-dimensional art, developing a practice that would become his life’s principal focus. He worked initially in drawing and painting, though collage and printmaking later became major components of his practice.

By the mid-1990s he had established himself as a significant presence within Welsh and British art, with major exhibitions and acquisitions confirming his growing prominence. What emerged was a signature style characterised by:

• flattened yet dynamic pictorial space
• layered pattern and bold colour
• stylised figures, animals, and architectural elements
• a sense of narrative tension and interior psychology

His work often feels like an illuminated manuscript reimagined for the present day.

Themes and Artistic Concerns

1. Myth and Folklore

Hicks-Jenkins frequently draws on folklore, medieval romance, and storytelling traditions. His acclaimed “Green Knight” series, inspired by Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, is a notable example—combining medieval narrative with contemporary graphic invention.

2. Biblical and Moral Narratives

Works such as his explorations of the story of Saint Kevin and other hagiographic subjects reveal his interest in moral complexity, temptation, sacrifice, and transformation.

3. Animals and Anthropomorphic Creatures

Animals occupy a central place in his visual world. Horses, dogs, cats, birds, and hybrid beings appear frequently, often functioning as emotional or symbolic counterparts to human protagonists.

4. The Landscapes of Wales

Welsh topography, architecture, and folk traditions permeate his imagery. Hills, chapels, farms, and woods become stage-sets for psychological drama.

5. The Interior Self

While narrative is essential, Hicks-Jenkins’ work is deeply introspective. Many images operate as allegories for anxiety, compassion, courage, and vulnerability.

Techniques and Materials

Hicks-Jenkins is known for his versatility and technical mastery. His methods include:

Painting

Often using acrylics, gouache, and mixed media, he works in layers that give his compositions a luminous, graphic quality.

Collage

His collages—meticulously cut, assembled, and coloured—are among his most celebrated achievements. They have a sculptural presence, combining sharp edges with fluid storytelling.

Drawing

Drawing remains central to his practice, both preparatory and autonomous. His linework is expressive and economical.

Printmaking

He has collaborated with several notable printmakers and studios, producing linocuts, screenprints, and editions that extend the reach of his imagery.

Artists’ Books

Hicks-Jenkins has contributed to award-winning artists’ books, bringing together poetry, narrative, and visual composition. His collaborations with poets such as Derek Walcott, Marly Youmans, and Damian Walford Davies have been especially acclaimed.

Notable Collaborations and Publications

Hicks-Jenkins is highly regarded for his artistic collaborations. These include:

• The Penfold Press, which produced many of his print editions.
• Fine press publishers, with whom he has developed artists’ books rich in imagery and literary nuance.
• Poets and authors, whose texts often inspire or complement his visual cycles.

These collaborative projects are important to his practice: they reveal his commitment to interdisciplinary work and his belief in storytelling as a shared artistic endeavour.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Hicks-Jenkins has exhibited widely in the UK, and his work is represented in major public and private collections. Over the last two decades he has had several substantial solo exhibitions, including retrospectives that trace the evolution of his visual language from theatre to mixed-media masterworks.

Public recognition includes awards for both his visual art and book illustration projects. His influence extends across disciplines: painters, illustrators, printmakers, and set designers all cite him as a source of inspiration.

Personal Qualities and Working Practice

Colleagues and collaborators frequently remark on:

• his generosity of spirit
• his meticulous craftsmanship
• his deep respect for tradition alongside modern experimentation
• his ability to guide younger artists through mentorship and example

He maintains a strong connection to Wales, where he lives and works, drawing on its cultural and geographical richness.

Legacy and Continuing Contribution

Clive Hicks-Jenkins has established a body of work that is distinctive, emotionally resonant, and culturally rooted. His legacy rests on:

• a uniquely recognisable visual language
• the reinvigoration of narrative art in Britain
• significant contributions to artists’ books and contemporary printmaking
• a continued commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and cultural engagement

His work occupies a place at the intersection of folklore, fine art, theatre, and literature. Few contemporary artists have developed such a coherent personal mythology or approached storytelling with such depth, elegance, and humanity.

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