Biography
Martin Cheek graduated in graphic design from Exeter College of Art & Design in 1981. Having made award winning films as a student, he subsequently worked on several puppet animation projects including ‘The Wind in the Willows’ ‘Paddington Bear’ ‘Noddy in Toyland’ and ‘Portland Bill’. He then set up his own production company Cheeky Films Ltd. For many years Martin wads a part time lecturer at the Royal College of Art. He is a former art critic for the Daily Express and now works full time as a professional mosaic artist. Martin is regularly commissioned by both private and corporate clients as well as by museums. His work also appears in leading National magazines and newspapers as well as on television. His weekend courses in the UK and abroad continue to be popular with students from all over the world keen to learn the art of making mosaic. Over 1200 people have now attended Martin’s courses.You can also view Martin’s work by visiting his website: http://www.martincheekmosaics.com
Artist’s Statement
“Mosaic is becoming more and more popular both as an art form and as a decorative medium. I regard my mosaic work as a logical progression from animation, both of which involve building a coherent whole, displaying character and movement, from thousands of tiny elements. I am particularly inspired by the natural world and relish the challenge of capturing its organic grace in such a seemingly uncompromising medium.”
CURRICULUM VITAE
Martin Cheek,
Flint House, 21 harbour street, Broadstairs, Kent, CT10 1ET, UK
01843 861958 Mobile: 0794 988 4620
www.martincheekmosaics.com martin@martincheekmosaics.com
EDUCATION
1978 – 1981 Exeter College of Art and Design: B.A. Hons. in Graphic Design.
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
1985 – Present: Self employed mosaic / ceramic artist.
1995 – 1996 Art Critic for The Daily Express.
1994 – 1996 Royal College of Art. Part-time lecturer in Animation MA & Life Drawing.
1985 – 1993 Co-founder and Creative Director of Cheeky Films Ltd.
1982 – 1985 Filmfair Communications: Director / Animator / Puppet & Model Maker.
1981 – 1982 Cosgrove Hall Productions: Set and Prop design and construction.
RECENT ART EXHIBITIONS & COMMISSIONS
One-man Exhibitions of Mosaic Sculpture, Mosaics & Ceramics
June – July 2004 Old Town Gallery of Contemporary Art, Margate, Kent.
Aug. 2002 Fish Slab Gallery, Whitstable, Kent.
March 2001 – 2005 Gallery of Mosaic Art & Design, Business Design Centre, London.
March 2001 Bartley Drey Gallery, Old Church Street, Chelsea, London.
Dec. 2000 – May 2001 Wetlands Wildfowl Trust Centre, Barnes, London.
Aug. 2000 Chelsea Arts Club Garden, Chelsea, London.
June 2000 Whitstable Festival, Kent.
April 1998 - April 1999 Touring exhibition: Mobile Arts Unit, Kent.
March 1999 - Jan 2000 Cheeky Birds Touring Exhibition: Swale / Canterbury / Medway / Herne Bay / Sittingbourne / Sheerness / Faversham / Meopham /Dartford / Stroud.
May 2000 Jersey Museum & Art Gallery.
April 1998 Chelsea Arts Club, Chelsea, London.
May 1997 Ramsgate Library Gallery, Kent.
Sept. – Oct. 1995 Fitch’s Ark Gallery, Little Venice, London.
Nov. 1994 - Jan. 1995 The Building Centre Gallery, Store Street, London.
Sept – Oct. 1994 The Pump House Gallery, Battersea Park, London.
April – Sept. 1993 Mr Punch & His Relatives From Around the World. The Lyric Theatre, Hammersmith, London.
Group Exhibitions
Aug – Oct. 2005 The Sea. Joint show with painter Bob Fludgate, Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury.
Dec. 2002 – Jan 2003 By Hand Craft Exhibition. Maidstone Town Hall.
May – June 2002 Ceramica – International Festival of Clay, Falmouth Art Gallery,
Dec. 2001 – Jan. 2002 Bartley Dray Christmas Exhibition, Old Church Street, Chelsea.
Dec. 2000 – Jan. 2001 Bartley Dray Christmas Exhibition, Old Church Street, Chelsea.
Dec. 2000 – Jan. 2001 A Rite of Passage, Ramsgate Library Gallery,
Dec. 1999 Chelsea Arts Club Christmas Show, Chelsea, London.
June - July 1999 Fresh Air 99, The Quenington Sculpture Show. Gloucestershire.
Dec. 1998 Chelsea Arts Club Christmas Show, Chelsea, London.
July – Aug. 1997 Bartley Dray Summer Exhibition, Old Church Street, Chelsea.
June - July 1997 Fresh Air 97, The Quenington Sculpture Show, Gloucestershire.
May 1997 Ramsgate Library Gallery, Kent.
May - July 1996 Exhibition of Contemporary Mosaics, Upstart Gallery, Notting Hill.
Jan - Feb 1996 Building An Image. Exhibition of Mosaics, The Ruskin Craft Gallery.
Dec. 1995 Show of Contemporary Mosaic at Syndicated Arts Gallery, Wapping.
Public Art Commissions: Community Mosaics
2006 Snake tiled Panel. South Borough Primary School.
2006 Thanet Mencap, Turner Triptych
2005 Thanet Mind Garden Gate, Four Seasons Paving Slabs & Sundial.
2000 St Augustine’s Abbey Canterbury, Canterbury Tales Mosaic: The Priest.
2000 Roman Museum, Canterbury, Asaratron. Unswept floor for museum entrance.
1999 Sheerness Library Cheeky Birds Tree of Life.
1997 The Museum of Modern Art Wales The Tale of Taliesin Mosaic.
1996 National Army Museum. Peace Mosaic to celebrate the anniversary of V.E. Day.
Public Art Commissions
2006 Mixed Emotions Mosaic. South Borough Primary School.
2006 Morehall Mosaic. Morehall Primary School
Winter / Spring 2004 Four Seasons Mosaic. Churchill School, Hawkinge, Kent.
Summer / Autumn 2003 Seaside Triptych. Riverhead School, Sevenoaks, Kent.
2001 Queen Mother Centenary Mosaic. Broadstairs, Kent.
2001 Sporting Activities. Ramsgate Leisure Centre, Ramsgate, Kent.
2000 Under the Sea. Debenhams, Guildford, Surrey.
1998 Machynlleth Mala. The Museum of Modern Art Wales.
BOOKS
Martin Cheek. Mosaic Craft. Collins & Brown, 2007.
Martin Cheek. The Art of Mosaic: Design & Inspiration. New Holland, 2002.
Martin Cheek. Making Mosaics. New Holland, 2000.
Martin Cheek. Design Source Book: Mosaics. New Holland, 1998.
Martin Cheek. Mosaics in a Weekend. New Holland, 1997.
Leslie Dierks (Ed.), Martin Cheek (Tech. Advisor). Mosaic. Sterling / Lark, 1995.
Miranda Innes, Martin Cheek (Tech. Advisor). ‘Country Living’ Craft Supplement 1995.
Miranda Innes, Martin Cheek (Tech. Advisor). Decorative Frames. Collins & Brown, 1995.
Peggy Vance, Martin Cheek (Tech. Advisor). The Mosaic Book, Ideas Projects and Techniques. Conran Octopus, 1994.
MAGAZINES
Art & Craft Magazine, Artists & Illustrators, Country Life, Country Living, Crafts Beautiful, Creative Ideas For Your Home, ES Magazine, Home Style, Homes and Gardens, Homes & Ideas, House Beautiful, Ideal Home, The Independent, Inspirations Magazine, Kent Profile, Kitchens Bedrooms and Bathrooms, The Lady, Monocle Magazine, Perspectives on Architecture, Prospect, The Sunday Times Style Magazine, The Telegraph, The Times Magazine, Woman & Home, The World of Interiors, and Your Home.
TELEVISION
Home Front BBC2, The Eleventh Hour BBC1, Cheap Chic UK Living.
RADIO
Kaleidoscope, BBC Radio Four.