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Around Town Meets...
Darren Baker
From Meltham to Mayfair - and beyond! Yorkshire artist Darren Baker literally has the world at his feet.
By Geraldine May
 Based in Meltham on the outskirts of Huddersfield, Darren is an extremely modest young man who is taking the art world by storm.
Now aged 29, he is already the official artist of the Professional Footballers Association and exhibits his work in major galleries all over the world, the nearest to this area being in the village of Saltaire on the outskirts of Bradford.
From a young age his family knew that Darren was a precocious talent.
Encouraged by his family, his love for painting grew as he did and developed into something very special.
His work uses all mediums from oils to pastel and pencil and he finds inspiration from all walks of life. Darren in particularly fond of painting still life, dogs, tasteful nudes and sports stars. His works of art are breathtakingly realistic and sometimes it’s hard to believe the canvas is a painting and not a photograph – such is the exquisite detail.
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 Darren is, of course, a fine artist – this word `fine’ being the key word in his work. His brush strokes are so intricate and detailed, the onlooker can’t quite believe the work is a painting.
Even Darren’s family admit they are astonished by his work none of his close relatives are particularly `arty’ and the family say his talent is quite remarkable.
It all started with football portraits – top Premiership players found themselves subjects on canvas and liked what they saw. When Darren started out painting footballers from photographs and then later approached the PFA with his work, he couldn’t have believed he would be appointed the association’s official artist.
He says: “Being an artist is a little bit like being an author. You have to get a foothold in the industry and you can work for years with no recognition - in much the same way an author believes he or she might have written a bestseller but can’t convince a publisher to sit up and take notice of their novel.
“I received my lucky break with the PFA and everything snowballed from then.’’
Painting is his life-force, says Darren. “My work is wrought from an unswerving desire to understand paint, art and the subjects I observe.
“My work owes much to the great exponents of still-life and portraiture. Classical tradition underpins my painting and vision and every new piece of art is a statement of intent: to improve and better understand the subject.
“My studies and observations of the Old Masters inspire and inform my art, whilst also relying heavily on contemporary influences. I aim to be an artist of my own time, whilst also acknowledging the past.’’
After graduating from Bradford Art College in 1998, Darren has received international acclaim for his still life and figurative work in pastels and oil. At the tender age of 23 the same year he was appointed artist to the PFA – he was invited to exhibit at the Millennium Exhibition in New York in a unique show for UK artists.
In this country his work has been accepted by both the Royal Academy and the Mall Galleries while overseas he has exhibited in the USA, Japan and Europe. His portrait work has received recognition from the Vatican with a personal message from the late Pope John Paul 11. Take a look on Darren’s website www.dbfinearts.co.uk to see his portrait of the late Pope.
Darren has also received many commissions from blue chip UK galleries, companies and personalities. His paintings hang in both private and public collections at home and abroad including Downing Street and St James’ Palace.
He is one of the artists regularly exhibited by the W H Patterson Gallery in London’s Mayfair and his original paintings are quickly snapped up for a tidy sum.
Darren has received numerous awards including best artist at The Fine Art Trade Guild Ceremony in London and The Garrick Prize, Christies, London. In 2005 he was named Yorkshire Young Achiever in the Arts.
He was recently one of over 4,000 exhibitors taking part in the prestigious Spring Fair held at Birmingham’s NEC in February. Artists, manufacturers, publishers etc take part in this major event attended by businesses and individuals from the UK and overseas.
Most days he is to be found hard at work in his attic workshop at his home in Meltham, adding the finishing touches to another work of art. His paintings hang on the walls and are a constant reminder to both his family and to visitors of what a fabulous talent he is.
Whether it’s a sportsman (he has recently completed a portrait of England’s cricket star Freddie Flintoff,) still life or an animal, rest assured Darren will create something very special with his amazing talent.
Do his paintings take a long time to complete? Some do, he says, depending on the detail and work involved.
As well as displaying his work in his own gallery at 14 Victoria Road, Saltaire, Darren ‘s work can also be seen at Holmfirth’s White Rose Gallery in Daisy Lane. Look on Darren’s website for more information and to see more of his work. Remember that many of his paintings are now available as prints and can be ordered. Visit the website at www.dbfinearts.co.uk
Published Spring 2006. All information correct at time of print
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