Ian Bruce (also known as Mr. Bruce) is a
painter
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called the "matrix" or "support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush, but other implements, such as knives, sponges, and ai ...
and the former lead singer in the DJ/MC duo
The Correspondents. He is currently the singer of a solo musical project alongside producer Angus Kemp likewise named "Mr. Bruce". Ian Bruce is also known for his creative music videos and eccentric dancing both onstage and in his music videos.
Biography
Ian Bruce was educated at
Eton College and
Edinburgh College of Art.
His degree show included pictures of people in a care home, which were described by
The Scotsman as 'lively and sympathetic'.
While at Edinburgh, he became MC for a group of DJs called 'Trouble'. However, he said to Leeds University Online Student Magazine, that by the time he finished at Edinburgh he was looking for something different, and that he felt that his "insistence on wearing a three piece suit for gigs was a little incongruous with the general vibe."
In 2009 he was selected as one of the Courvoisier 'Future 500' people expected to be a success in their various fields.
Painting
Bruce's primary interest is in
portraiture, and he has painted subjects including pupils at Eton College, and a portrait of
Sebastian Horsley. In 2009, he also began a project to paint portraits over
skype video-chat, giving him the ability to take commissions from people living abroad.
He has held exhibitions in
London and
Edinburgh including a collaboration with Rose Davey, and a show in the
Cosa Gallery in
Notting Hill.
The Correspondents
Bruce was also the lead singer and MC of DJ/MC duo
The Correspondents, described by the
Evening Standard as 'the kings of hip-hop swing' and by the
Hounslow Chronicle as having developed 'a reputation for setting parties alight'.
Bruce's on-stage charisma and wild dancing is often commented on by commentators and reviewers of his shows.
The Correspondents supported and played alongside artists such as
Lily Allen and
Basement Jaxx
Basement Jaxx are an English electronic music duo consisting of Felix Buxton and Simon Ratcliffe. The pair got their name from the regular club night they held in Brixton, London, UK. They first rose to popularity in the underground house scene ...
and played at major festivals such as
WOMAD,
Glastonbury and
Secret Garden Party
The Secret Garden Party, often colloquially shortened to the SGP, is an independent arts and music festival which takes place in Abbots Ripton near Huntingdon in England. This location is on part of the grounds of a Georgian farmhouse and has it ...
.
Although Bruce prefers to avoid heavy promotion and allow people to gently discover his work for themselves, The Correspondents developed a sizeable cult following.
They were listed by the
Daily Telegraph
Daily or The Daily may refer to:
Journalism
* Daily newspaper, newspaper issued on five to seven day of most weeks
* ''The Daily'' (podcast), a podcast by ''The New York Times''
* ''The Daily'' (News Corporation), a defunct US-based iPad new ...
's Lucy Jones as one of the 'Top Ten Highlights of Glastonbury' in 2010.
The Correspondents were retired in late 2020 following the unexpected passing of Bruce's longtime bandmate and producer Tim "Chucks" Cole. Bruce continues to produce new music under an independent name.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruce, Ian
Living people
People educated at Eton College
Alumni of the Edinburgh College of Art
21st-century English painters
English male painters
Year of birth missing (living people)
21st-century English male artists