D E N I S . B R O W N
Curriculum Vitae
Denis Brown's work stems from ancient traditions of manuscript writing, and he has engaged with these since his early teens. Rigorous formal training in traditional calligraphy at London's Roehampton Institute has formed a strong foundation for later experimental work. His work explodes from and extends traditions of calligraphy in the form of innovative works of art. Widely traveled with his work, he has won awards and commissions on four continents, and is internationally recognized as a world leader in the field of Letter Arts.
Date of Birth: 1968, Dublin, Ireland
QUALIFICATIONS & FELLOWSHIPS
Honoured Fellowship of Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society UK (HFCLAS), Fellowship awarded 1994, updated to Honoured Fellow April 2007.
Fellowship of Society of Scribes and Illuminators UK, (FSSI) awarded 1988.
Honorary membership of Hong Kong Letter Arts Club, awarded 1998.
Honorary membership of Alpha Beta Club, Hong Kong, awarded 2001.
Diploma in Advanced Calligraphy, Roehampton Institute, London,1989.
BTEC in Music Technology, Ballyfermot College of FE, 2001.
COLLECTIONS
European Parliament, Strasbourg & Brussels; British Library, London; Newberry Library Chicago; San Francisco Public Library; Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge UK; National Museum of Ireland; Trinity College Library, Dublin; Chester Beatty Library, Dublin; Crafts Council of Ireland; Irish Office of Public Works; Irish Association of Pension Funds; The Great Book of Ireland, Dublin Castle; Hon. Society of the Kings Inns, Dublin; Irish Life PLC; Cittadella Town Council, Italy; Calligraphy Society of Victoria, Australia; Arthur Jaffe Collection, Florida.
AWARDS
2008: Numerous hon ours received at YouTube.com for 2 calligraphy movies uploaded to YouTube, including top 50 listings for both movies in all of the following: Most Discussed (This Month) - Film & Animation; Most Viewed (This Month) - Film & Animation; Top Favorites (This Month) - Film & Animation; Top Rated (This Month) - Film & Animation.
2007: RDS National Craft Competition, 1st prize, category for Calligraphy; other media
2006: The Crafts Council of Ireland Bursary 2006;
Featured cover artist, Review 2006, annual international letter arts competition, Letter Arts Review, USA.
2005: 2nd Prize, Review 2005, annual international letter arts competition, Letter Arts Review, USA.
2003: First Prize, Review 2003, annual international letter arts competition, Letter Arts Review, USA; First Prize, Calligraphy on Paper category, RDS National Craft Competition; Crafts Council of Ireland Purchase Award; Golden Web Award 2003-2004
2002: Golden Web Award 2002-2003
2001: Golden Web Award 2001-2002; Awarded Honorary Membership of Alpha Beta Club, (ABC), Hong Kong
2000: RDS National Craft Competition, 1st prize, Glass category; Category Award, Calligraphy & Lettering; The Glass Society of Ireland Award.
1999: RDS National Crafts Competition: The Millennium Award plus first prize in the calligraphy category.
1998: Awarded Honorary Membership of Hong Kong Letter Arts Club; RDS National Crafts Competition: 1st prize, calligraphy category plus Glass Society of Ireland Award.
1997: RDS National Crafts Competition: Prizewinner in calligraphy category.
1994: Awarded Fellowship of the new Calligraphy & Lettering Arts Society, UK.
1993: Cultural Relations Committee Grant; RDS National Crafts Competition: 1st prize, calligraphy category.
1992: Nominated for The Japan Design Foundation’s 6th Osaka Design Award, Osaka, Japan; Arts Council Documentation Grant; RDS National Crafts Competition: 1st prize, calligraphy category plus The California Gold Medal plus The Muriel Gahan Scholarship plus The Crafts Council of Ireland Award.
1991: RDS National Crafts Competition: 1st prize, calligraphy category plus The Philip T Brooks Memorial Prize.
1990: Prizewinner, Boyne Valley National Art Competition; RDS National Crafts Competition: Prizewinner in calligraphy category.
1989: RDS National Crafts Competition: 1st prize, calligraphy category plus The California Gold Medal; plus The Crafts Council of Ireland Award.
1988: Unanimously elected to Fellowship of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators, London. Became youngest Fellow in history of SSI as well as first Fellow from Ireland. 1987: Awarded a British Council Fellowship to study in London.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
I haven’t offered solo shows in recent years, but here is a list of earlier shows plus a recent live-art performance:
2008: Solo performance of large scale live art combined with multi media projections and music filmed/recorded by the artist. A special evening event at Letters Mingle Souls, The 2008 International Conference for Lettering Artists, Chicago.
1996: Art Center of Battle Creek, Michigan, USA; Hallward Gallery, Dublin
1994: Royal Hibernian Academy Gallagher Gallery, Dublin; Hallward Gallery, Dublin; Grainstore Gallery, Galway
1992: Riverrun Gallery, Dublin
1988: Marsden Arms, Oxford
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2008: Letters Mingle Souls Faculty Exhibit, International Conference for Lettering Artists, Chicago
2007: National craftwinners Exhibition, Royal Dublin Society (RDS) and tour. Island Magic, International Calligraphy Conference Vancouver Island, faculty exhibit.
2006: SOFA, Chicago, USA; Word & Craft, Art Center of Asheville, NC, USA; St. Louis Calligraphy Guild 25th Anniversary Exhibit, St. Louis Calligraphy Guild, St. Louis, USA. "Black & White" Conference, faculty exhibit, Seattle, USA. RDS National crafts exhibition, RDS Dublin plus tour.
2005: 'Legacies' Faculty Exhibit, 25th International Letter Arts Conference, Dallas TX USA; Collectors Ireland at the Hunt Museum, Limerick.
2004: Living Letters 2, CLAS fellows & associates Exhibition, UK.
2003: Celebration, Faculty Exhibit, 23rd International Conference of Lettering Arts, Ohio, USA
2002: Living Letters, CLAS fellows & associates Exhibition, UK; The Calligraphy Connection, Faculty Exhibit, 22nd International Conference of Lettering Arts, Minnesota, USA.
2001: Calligraphic Odyssey, Faculty Exhibit, 21st International Conference of Lettering Arts, Boston, USA; RDS National Craftwinners Traveling Exhibition.
1999: Writing Beyond Words, Faculty Exhibit, 19th International Conference of Lettering Arts, Connecticut, USA; Alpha Beta Club exhibition, Hong Kong; Internationale Kalligraphie, Berchtold Villa, Salzburg, Austria.
1998: Celebrating American Poetry, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, USA; Discoveries, Faculty exhibit, 18th International Calligraphers’ Conference, San Diego, USA
1997: Belle Lettere Exhibition, Cittadella, Italy; Gateway to Art, Dublin Airport; SSI Exhibitions, Durham Art Gallery & Leamington Art Gallery; Confluence, Faculty & juried exhibits,17th International Conference of Lettering Arts, St. Louis, USA.
1996: Word as Image, Black Swan Guild, Somerset; SSI Celebration of Calligraphy, Leighton House, London; Words Revealed, MAC Centre, Birmingham & tour; Picturing the Word: The Book of Kells, Trinity College Dublin; Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin
1995: Decorative Arts Today, Bonhams, London; Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin; Gateway to Art, Dublin Airport; Bridges & Crossroads, Irish Life Centre & tour; Codes & Messages, UK Crafts Council & UK tour.
1994: The California Experience II, Faculty exhibition, 14th International Conference of Lettering Arts, CA, USA; RHA Exhibition, Dublin; Grainstore Gallery, Galway
1993: Contemporary Irish Art, Fujita Vente Museum, Tokyo; Talentborse Handwerk, Internationale Handwerksmesse, Munich; Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin
1992: RHA annual exhibition, Dublin
1991: Europaisches Kunsthandwerk, Stuttgart; The Great Book of Ireland, Irish Museum of Modern Art; Fine Words, Fine Books, St Paul's Cathedral, London; Oireachtas Exhibition, Dublin
1990: RHA annual exhibition, Dublin
PUBLICATIONS & REVIEWS
International specialist publications
Letter Arts Review, USA,(formerly Calligraphy Review): featured in annual reviews 2006, (cover image and elsewhere inside), 2005, (2nd prize), 2004, 2003 (overall winner), 2002, 1998, '97, '96, '95, '94; also featured in vol.19 number 1; vol.17 number 4; & letter's column vol.14 number 4.
Calligraphy Review, USA; Full color illustrated articles: review of Ancient Codex series, vol. 11 no.1, 1994; and Great Book of Ireland, vol. 9 no.4, 1992; also featured in Fall '89, & annual reviews '93, '91, '90.
International Calligraphy Guild articles and reviews
Ars Scribendi, Germany, illustrated article 'Denis Brown, Virtuose der Feder', Jahrgang 13, Nr.2, August 2006
Majuscule, Journal of the St. Louis Calligraphy Guild, Special 25th anniversary Exhibit Edition, vol. 17 2006
Colophon, Australian Society of Calligraphers Journal, June 2007- extensive workshop reviews; March 2006- illustrated article by Denis Brown. Also Colophon Vol. 23 no.1, Dec 2002; Vol 2, June 1995
Postscript, Calligraphy Society of Victoria, Australia; Feb-March 2005; June-July 1995
ACA Newsletter, Association for the Calligraphic Arts, USA: full illustrated article Spring 2003, also cover image Winter 2003
The Edge magazine of CLAS, UK, Spring 2008; August 2005 (full color special: features several articles by Denis Brown who guest designed the issue with David McGrail). See also frequent snippets in The Edge since the first issue, and esp. the the March '97 issue, co-written & designed by Denis Brown & David McGrail.
Alpha Club Japan, Journal Vol. 5 2004, Creators Interviews
The Scribe, Journal of The Society of Scribes & Illuminators UK: Issues no. 45, 52, 54, 55, 57, 60, 61, 68.
Handscrit, Houston Calligraphy Guild, Sept/Oct 2003, Denis Brown full color cover image.
Kalligrafisk Forum Danmark: no. 2 August 2001.
Scriptores, Belgium: no. 3, 2008; no.4, 2000.
Letters & Letters, Dutch/Belgian magazine, December 2000 and frequently since then.
Hong Kong Lettering Arts Club Newsletter, Spring 1999, Summer 1999
Alphabet, Journal of the Friends of Calligraphy, San Francisco, USA, vol. 22 no.2, Winter 1997; vol. 19 no.3 Summer 1994; vol. 18 no. 2 Spring 1993, article by Jane Boyd.
Society of Scribes Newsletter, New York, USA, Vol 21, no.1, Winter 1997.
Pacific Scribes Journal ,CA, USA, winter 1997
The Western Scribe, Journal of the Calligraphers Guild of W. Australia: June '93.
Calligrafia: Rivista Periodica N.I, Primavera '92, Italy.
Calligraphy Society of New Zealand, Christchurch NZ, May 1995, reviews of Denis Brown work and workshops.
New Zealand Calligraphers newsletter, Auckland NZ, Summer 1994.
Other International magazines and Journals
Artists' Cafe, Best of Somerset Studio, USA: 6 page color feature on Denis Brown, Vol 1 issue1, 2007.
Easy Traveler, Japan, vol.14 2006, Ireland Feature.
The English Journal, (USA), Jan 2006- cover art by Denis Brown.
China Review, UK, Summer 2005, issue 33: review of ‘The Music of Ink’ by Helen Wang.
Somerset Studio, USA: full illustrated article Nov/Dec 2002
Letterheads, US sign painters journal: vol.7 no.1, 2002
Print Magazine, USA: Jan/Feb 2001, article Strokes of Genius by Paul Shaw on International calligraphic art includes work by Denis Brown.
Digital Design, Denmark: no. 28 August 2001.
MOE magazine, Japan: February 2000, September 1998.
Artex, Japan; International Art review, Associazione per GLI Scambi Artistici Internazionali, no. 3,1999.
Brutus Magazine Japan: April '97, March '95.
Marie-Claire Magazine Japan: Nov. '96.
Crafts, magazine of the British Crafts Council: Jan/Feb '92; Featured in article 'Strokes of Genius-The New Calligraphy' by Ewan Clayton, plus cover image by Denis Brown
The Architects Journal, UK: August '92.
The Artist, UK: December '92.
Leisure Painter, UK: November '92
Craft Review, Magazine of the Crafts Council of Ireland: Winter '89, Issue No. 2, 1990, Winter '91.
Irish magazines/journals
Irish Arts Review: Winter 2007, Irish Craft 2007 supplement; Summer 2007, 'Standard Setters' feature; Spring 2006, Crafts Council Portfolio +CD-Rom; Vol 8 (1991-92) 149, Great Book of Ireland
Crafts Council Stopress: Jul/Aug 2006, feature 'Bursary Winners 2006'.
Craft Review, Magazine of the Crafts Council of Ireland: Winter '89, Issue No. 2, 1990, Winter '91.
Cara magazine: Vol. 24, No.5. Sept/Oct 1991, feature: 'The Great Book of Ireland'.
Illustrators Ireland Journal: issue 5, 1994, article and interview.
Progress, RDS Magazine 2, 4 1991-2, 'The Calligraphic Challenge of Denis Brown',
Craft Review, Crafts Council of Ireland: Winter '89; Issue No. 2, 1990; Winter '91
Selected Press features & reviews
South Bend Tribune, IN, USA, 22 May 2005, Interview by Andrew S. Hughes
Sunday Business Post, IRL,16 Jul 2000, Adrienne Dunne picks her ultimate home accessory
Kalamazoo Gazette, MI, USA, 22 Sept 1996, Review by Roger Green
Battle Creek Enquirer, MI, USA, 22 Sept 1996, review by Roxanne Barry
Battle Creek Enquirer, MI, USA, 17 Sept 1996, review by Mark Schwerin
Grand Rapids Press, MI, USA, 11 Sept 1996, Review by Roger Green
The Irish Times, 22nd Jan 1996, Letter to the editor by Denis Brown.
The Irish Times, 12th Jan 1996, Brian Fallon reviews Denis Brown exhibition.
The Irish Catholic, 29 Sept 1994, Review by Kate Robinson
The Irish Times, 27 August, 1994, Luke Clancy reviews 'The Word' exhibition at the RHA.
The Sunday Independent, 21 August 1994 Ciara Ferguson on 'The Word' exhibition.
The New York Times, 1st Jan 1994, featured 'The Great Book of Ireland'.
The Irish Times, 11th Sept 1993, Ciaran MacGonigal, The Opulent Eye
The Irish Times, Aug 3, 1993, Jane Powers reviews the RDS Crafts Competition.
The Irish Independent,12th Oct 1992, Bruce Arnold reviews Denis Brown’s 'Inverse Alchemy' exhibition.
Irish Press, 26 June 1991; 'The Great Book of Ireland' feature, and cartoon!
Irish Independent, 26 June 1991; 'The Great Book of Ireland' feature
Irish Press, 26 June 1991; 'The Great Book of Ireland' feature
Sunday Press, IRL, 23 June 1991, color supplement on Great Book of Ireland
Sunday Tribune, IRL, 23 June 1991, color supplement on Great Book of Ireland
The Irish Times, 15 June 1991, color feature on Great Book of Ireland
The Irish Times, 27 Jan 1990; 'The Great Book of Ireland' preview
Irish Independent, 9th Aug 1989: 'In A Word, A Whiz Kid' review.
The Times, UK, 26th Nov 1987. Feature and interview with Denis Brown as a calligraphy student in London.
Young Citizen Magazine, IRL, Nov-Dec 1982- review about Denis Brown making a manuscript book at 14 years old!
Books featuring Denis Brown
Digital Calligraphy, George Thomson, 2003.
Passie voor Letters, Marianne Heemskerk, Cantecleer Baarn 2002.
Dublin's Art Beat, Tokyo, Japan,1999.
Belle Lettere, Carlo Buffa, Edizioni Centrooffset, Italy,1997.
The Art of Calligraphy, David Harris, Dorling Kindersly, London,1995.
Calligraphy, Art & color, Peter Halliday, Batsford, London, 1994.
Calligraphy -The Rhythm of Writing, Satwinder Sehmi, Merhurst, London, 1993.
Lettering Arts, Joanne Fink & Judy Kastin, PBC, New York, 1993.
Calligraphy, David Harris, Anaya, London, 1992.
International Crafts, Martina Margetts, Thames & Hudson, London, 1991.
Encyclopedia of Calligraphy Techniques, Diane Hardy Wilson, Quarto, 1990.
Advanced Calligraphy Techniques, Diana Hoare, Quarto, London, 1989.
CD-ROM
sWORDSmanship, Calligraphic Art by Denis Brown, self published CD-ROM for PC and Macintosh available from http://quillskill.com/DBCD/cd-r.htm
Websites
www.quillskill.com
www.glass.quillskill.com
www.youtube.com/THEREALQUILLSKILL
www.ionone.com/artbrown.htm
http://denisb72.stumbleupon.com/
www.calligraphy.tv
www.artvitae.com/DenisBrown
Google
Check it out yourself- search "Denis Brown"+calligraphy
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Approved by the Society of Scribes & Illuminators, UK, as an instructor of calligraphy, in 1988. Since then have conducted international workshops at the invitation of calligraphy guilds in the USA, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, Ireland, Britain, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland and Italy. The level ranges from amateur to master classes for the highly experienced & pros.
Workshop information available: click here
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