Michael Tarr

Heavily influenced by the various charms of Italy, Michael's work draws on his background as an architectural illustrator, where he worked for 12 years after leaving the Somerset College of Art. Mundane or commonplace subjects are viewed in a different or unexpected light.
Recently he has been working on a series of ‘ombrellone’ paintings, depicting Italian beach umbrellas, playing with the shapes, colours and patterns. Chairs, their pattern, design and the shadows that they create present the perfect subject for his fascination with finding abstraction in everyday forms.
His paintings are held in many private collections in the UK and in Europe. Also in public collections including Somerset Art Gallery Trust, Somerset CCC and the Somerset Cricket Museum. He lives and works at Blagdon Hill, near Taunton in Somerset.

Somerset College of Art 1962 - 1965 (Dip AD)

RA Summer Exhibition (3 times, inc catalogue illustration 2013)
RWA Autumn Open Bristol (8 times) Prizewinner 2009
RWA Drawn Exhibition (2 times)
Royal Watercolour Society London (4 times)
Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters London
Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize London
Sunday Times Watercolour Exhibition London
Millfield Open Summer Show (7 times) Prizewinner 2008
Somerset Artweek participation (13 times)
And many other solo and mixed shows in the South West and Yorkshire