Bob Harper

The subject matter I paint reflects my love of rock music, an endless interest in faces, contemporary lyrics and handwriting. Another fascinating aspect of portraiture I try to exploit is just how little of a face we need to recognise a subject. Clearly, the more iconic the subject, the less information is required.

I have developed all of these themes in my rock portraits, which are worked in watercolours, acrylics, coloured pencils and chalks. Lately I have discovered hard wearing papers which can be sandpapered and generally roughed up.”