Eric Holder

Eric Holder was co-director of The Abbott and Holder Gallery on Portobello Road, London. In 1960 I wandered into the Gallery with two of my works under my arm. Eric studied the works closely and suggested we go back to my studio on Queensway to see more. He arranged my first London oneman exhibition for a month later. Not only did he take a very small commission but he framed all my works at his own cost. After a very successful show we had a second exhibition in 1962. A year later I left for France for a forty two year stay. At left is a watercolour study I made of Eric in 1961.

Samuel Beckett 1962

In the late 1950`s Gray worked as designer for the Pike Theatre Dublin. His work included the setting for ``The Rose Tattoo``by Tennesee Williams and directed by Alan Simpson which caused a sensation when Simpson was arrested for ``indecent`` scenes in the production. Later Simpson was cleared and the production was invited to transfer to The Theatre Royal, Belfast where it was a big success. Simpson introduced Gray to Samuel Beckett and later Gray went to Beckett`s home in Paris to paint the portrait. Later the work was exhibited at The Royal Hibernian Academy Dublin. It is now in a private collection in Ireland.

Francis Bacon 1960

This portrait of Bacon was done from life in Gray`s London studio in 1960 and exhibited and sold in Gray`s first London exhibition at Abbott and Holder Gallery, the same year. It has been in The National Portrait Gallery London`s permanent collection since 1975.

Alfred Schnittke, John Tavener, Arvo Part.

My portraits of Alfred Schnittke, John Tavener and Arvo Part. Added to Olivier Messien, these are composers I listen to during working on a canvas, In the classic range it is Beethoven, Mahler and Vivaldi .

Portrait of actress Juliette Binoche

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Portrait of the French actress Juliette Binoche as George Sand on the set of the film ``Les Enfants du Siecle`` Paris 1998

Portrait of Patrick Swift

Gaelic Poet Derry O`Sullivan

Ted Hughes in the Calder Valley

Helena Bonham Carter

The Fur Collar

Le Monteau Rouge

The Claire Triptych

BIOGRAPHY

Reginald Gray was born in Dublin. Ireland. He studied at The National College of Art there and then under Cecil ffrench Salkeld learning old master techniques. He moved to London in 1957 and had his first one man exhibition at Abbott and Holder Gallery. He met and painted Francis Bacon and the portrait now hangs in The National Portrait Gallery,London since 1975. Gray moved to France in 1962 and has lived there for many years where his portraits include author Jill Neville (National Portrait Gallery Australia) and many other subjects such as Juliette Binoche, Helena Bonham Carter, Samuel Beckett, Patrick Swift, Derry O`Sullivan and Sean Brophy. His `Santa Maria Magdalena` hangs in The Church of the Holy Cross. St Pancras London. Gray now lives between Paris ans London and works in the two cities. LINK; www.redravenarts.com