Jack Tierney is a British painter who holds a BA in Painting from Loughborough University School of Art. After graduating, he moved to Bristol where he spent a decade focusing on large-scale mural work, developing a bold and immersive visual language. In 2020, he relocated to Cornwall and now works from his studio in Redruth.
Tierney's practice spans exhibitions and residencies across the UK and Europe, including a notable residency at Bigz-the former Yugoslavian national printing headquarters in Belgrade, Serbia. In 2015, he was awarded the National Open Art Painting Prize, and his work is held in numerous private collections both in the UK and internationally.
Jack's work is influenced by the bold colours and expressive brushstrokes of Fauvist and Post-Impressionist painters, as well as the playful mark-making of folk art. His paintings are stylised recordings of the world around him.
His creative process balances control and spontaneity, often letting ideas evolve directly on the canvas. This approach leads to unexpected directions, with layers of paint being added and erased, transforming compositions and revealing the essence of each piece in the exposed layers.
Jack's work often feels slightly at odds with itself, with a composition that reflects his fascination with naïve and folk art. He seeks to capture the raw energy of childhood drawing-just before refinement takes over. This imperfection gives his work a vitality and authenticity that is more compelling than polished perfection.
For Jack, the soul of the painting lies in its flaws, connecting to something deeply human and nostalgic. The challenge is to embody this rawness without it feeling forced- or, as he describes it, 'to paint badly, but to do it well.'
