Nigel Cox (born 1959) is an Irish figurative artist.

Biography

Early life

Cox, the second youngest of four children, grew up in

Dundalk Dundalk ( ; ga, Dún Dealgan ), meaning "the fort of Dealgan", is the county town (the administrative centre) of County Louth, Ireland. The town is on the Castletown River, which flows into Dundalk Bay on the east coast of Ireland. It is h ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

; he had three sisters, Sandra, Jacqui and Nicola. Cox left Ireland in 1977 to study marine radio and radar technology, at Riversdale College of Technology, Liverpool, UK in order to become a Radio Officer in the Merchant Navy. He then joined the

Transglobe Expedition The Transglobe Expedition (1979–1982) was the first expedition to make a longitudinal (north–south) circumnavigation of the Earth using only surface transport. British adventurer Sir Ranulph Fiennes led a team, including Oliver Shepard and Char ...

, led by Sir Ranulph Fiennes. This three-year expedition achieved the first circumnavigation of the globe on land, sea and ice via North and South poles along the

Greenwich Meridian The historic prime meridian or Greenwich meridian is a geographical reference line that passes through the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in London, England. The modern IERS Reference Meridian widely used today ...

. In 1989 Cox moved to London.

Transglobe expedition

During the

, whose Patron was

HRH Prince Charles Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. He was the longest-serving heir apparent and Prince of Wales and, at age 73, became the oldest person to ...

, Cox was at sea, on an ice cap or in a remote location, surrounded by the vast and desolate spaces which had a profound effect and influenced his art. During the expedition Cox's medium was sketchbook and watercolour.

Work

Paintings and technique

Cox began painting in watercolour while on the Transglobe Expedition creating illustrations for his diary. He continued painting when living in Germany developing his technique in both watercolour and oils. In his work, Cox takes everyday people out of their busy surroundings and places them out of context, in minimalist empty landscapes. His techniques and influences are further explored in his interview in The Argus, by Margaret Roddy.

Exhibitions

2018 - Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, California, Solo Exhibition, Solitude & The Road to Extinction 2018 - Galerie Hegemann, Munich, Germany, Contempo, Group Exhibition 2017 - Jonathan LeVine Gallery, New York, USA, The Shape of Things to Come, Group Exhibition 2016 - CONTEXT Art Miami, Miami, USA with Corey Helford Gallery 2016 - Corey Helford Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, Group Exhibition 2016 - Galerie Hegemann Gallery, Munich, Germany (Two man show with sculptor Michael Pickl) 2016 - Gormleys Fine Art, Dublin 2, Ireland, Far from the Crowd, Solo Show 2015 - Rarity Gallery, Mykonos, Greece, Group Exhibition 2014 - Oblivious, Coates & Scarry, Mayfair, London, U.K. Solo Show 2014 - Quantum Contemporary Art, Art Wynwood, Miami, Florida 2013 - Coates & Scarry, Philadelphia Street Gallery, Bristol, UK, Group Exhibition 2013 - Stroke Urban Art Fair, Coates & Scarry, Munich, Germany 2013 - Trailblazers, Above Second Gallery/Coates & Scarry, Hong Kong, Group Exhibition 2013 - Sanguine, Elisabeth Weinstock and Coates & Scarry, LA, California, Group Exhibition 2012 - Rarity Gallery Summer Salon Show, Mykonos, Greece, Group Exhibition

Acknowledgments

Commissions & Awards

* London Lives 2010 competition - Silver Medal Awarded * The Royal Society of Portrait Painters regularly selects Cox for their annual exhibitions at the Mall Galleries in London since 2007. **In 2010 his submission of "The Irrepressible Charlie Stock" is selected and reviewed by

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...

. **In 2012 his submission of commissioned portrait of "

Carlos Acosta Carlos Yunior Acosta Quesada (born 2 June 1973) is a Cuban-British ballet director and retired dancer who is director of the Birmingham Royal Ballet. He danced with many companies including the English National Ballet, National Ballet of Cu ...

", is selected and reviewed 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 ...

and ''The Argus''.

Contributions

* "Fagan's Fortune" by Nigel Cox was donated and auctioned for the

Terrence Higgins Trust Terrence Higgins Trust is a British charity that campaigns about and provides services relating to HIV and sexual health. In particular, the charity aims to end the transmission of HIV in the UK; to support and empower people living with HIV, to ...

at The Lighthouse Gala Auction in March 2007 alongside Tracey Emin and Damien Hirst. This event held at

Christie's Christie's is a British auction house founded in 1766 by James Christie (auctioneer), James Christie. Its main premises are on King Street, St James's in London, at Rockefeller Center in New York City and at Alexandra House in Hong Kong. It is ...

annually raises funds for this charity, attracting London's fashion set.