Sempervivum Mandala - Limited Edition 26 of 40 Print

Cliff Edwards is an artist and educator. After completing three years at his local art college in Buckinghamshire he then moved to London to study Fine Art at the Slade School of Art, University College. Here he worked initially as a painter, but toward the end of his degree and during his post-graduate years he produced large environmental ‘earth works’ which explored issues of global, environmental and philosophical concerns. During this time he also worked with the architect and author Keith Critchlow, and met Buckminster Fuller, the American designer, author and futurist, both of whom were to affect a profound influence on his later work. During his post graduate time Cliff also engaged in educational projects in London schools, designing and building geodesic and polyhedral domes. From his early college years he had a keen interest in Eastern and Western philosophy and metaphysics, particularly works that draw from the world's spiritual traditions, and to what the author Aldous Huxley was to call ‘The Perennial Philosophy.’ He began to present visual lectures on such themes as ‘Myths and Symbols of Evolution’, and ‘Introductions to the Sacred Art of Islam’ to universities and teacher training colleges. During his time at the Slade he studied meditation, and after completing of his post-graduate course, became a teacher and ran a meditation centre in Harrow on the Hill whilst also teaching art and design at numerous educational institutions. He married an Indonesian interior designer, raised two children, became a full time college lecturer, and was involved in developing national art and design educational initiatives. Cliff has travelled extensively across Europe, USA, North Africa, Iran and South East Asia, including Indonesia, Thailand, India and Sri Lanka, gleaning knowledge and imagery for his work. He now continues to make art work using botanical, landscape and abstracted themes which often incorporate geometric backgrounds or borders. His work has been exhibited at numerous solo and group exhibitions including the Royal Academy and the Piccadilly Gallery, London. His work can be found in public collections in France and many private collections in the USA, UK, the Middle East, Australia and worldwide. Recently he has completed a book rich in visual imagery which explores and integrates the role of number, geometry and symbolism in nature, art and architecture.