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Retail Art Gallery of the Year
Mackenzie Thorpe
Born in 1956 in Middlesbrough, England, Mackenzie Thorpe grew up in an industrial town shaped by the shipbuilding industry. His father and grandfather were shipyard workers, and this background deeply influenced his work.
Despite struggling with dyslexia, Thorpe found solace and confidence in art from a young age. He used any materials he could find, even borrowing his mother's makeup! After leaving school without formal qualifications, he took on manual jobs while continuing to draw and paint. At 21, he finally enrolled in art college, eventually graduating from the prestigious Byam Shaw School of Art in London.
Thorpe's work is known for its emotional depth and "Art from the heart" principle. He combines tenderness with fervency, often depicting children and animals in both joyful and thought-provoking ways.
His signature motifs include "square sheep" and duffle coat boys, evoking a sense of innocence and nostalgia. However, he also tackles darker themes like isolation and social struggles, reflecting his industrial hometown upbringing.
Thorpe celebrated 30 years of artistic practice in 2019 with a world tour and prestigious appointments as official artist for various events. He was awarded an honorary degree from Teesside University (2000) and an honorary professorship by Seisa University in Japan (2019).
