James MacKeown is the grandson of the late Tom Carr (1909-1999), one of Belfast's most distinguished painters. He was taught mainly by his grandfather. Despite never having any formal art training, he evidently absorbed the profoundly teachable style which Tom Carr had learnt at the Slade School in London and also through his close association in the 1930's with the Euston Road School of Painters. Carr's style of painting was essentially private and contemplative in character. Influences from Monet and Bonnard can be seen in his later works. MacKeown is equally contemplative in his own paintings and is interested in the behaviour of light in quiet domestic interiors or cafes, he is also interested in structure and form of objects and figures. He creates truly beautiful paintings mainly in oil.

BIOGRAPHY
1961 Born London, of Irish origin
Spent most of his childhood in Ireland
1988- present Living in Normandie

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2004/02/00 Bell Gallery ,
2004/01 Solomon Gallery
2004/02/00 Galerie Colette Dubois,
2004/03/02/01/00 Côté Galerie, Paris
2004/02/01 Galerie Clément, Nice
2003/02/01 West Wales Art Centre
2003/01 Galerie Rollin,
2002 Galerie C. Le Monnier
2001 Bruton St Gallery, London
2000 Galerie Alfa, Le Havre

GROUP EXHIBITIONS & ART FAIRS
2007/06 Spring Exhibition, The Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
2006 AAF, London, with The Barbara Stanley Gallery
2006/05 Christmas Exhibition, The Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
2006/05 Summer Exhibition, The Barbara Stanley Gallery, London
1999 Galerie Sepia, Hong Kong ‘Beware French Paints’
1998/97 Solomon Gallery, Dublin
1998/96 Bell Gallery, Belfast
1998/97/6 Bank Street Gallery, London
1997/98 Galerie Colette Dubois, Paris
1997/98/99 Galerie Alfa, Le Havre

AWARDS
Highly commended at the National Portrait Galery Portrait Award
Royal Ulster Academy Silver Medal, 2000

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
The Contemporary Arts Society of Wales . The National Library of Wales Collection. The National Self Portrait Collection of Ireland . The Art Collection of the Northern Ireland Government, the Department of Environment. The ’Irish News’ Collection. Fondation Colas (France )