Internationally artist, and director of music videos for rock star Peter Gabriel, returns to his hometown Wirral

Feb 1 2012 by Linda Foo Guest, Birkenhead News

AN INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed artist who directed music videos for rock star Peter Gabriel has returned to his hometown, Wirral.

Award-winning artist Graham Dean is staging his first exhibition in the borough in 17 years to mark his 60th birthday.

Graham paints large-scale watercolours of figures and his work is exhibited all around the world.

His exhibition, aptly named ‘A 60th Birthday Exhibition’, is at the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum on Slatey Road, Birkenhead until February 26.

He has 80 paintings on display, including works related to 2012 and some dating back to 1988 – many that have not been displayed before.

Graham told the News: “For 10 years I painted in cinematic style, like film stills – I was heavily influenced by films.

“Then I changed to watercolours to try and reinvent its image because it was dreadful and consisted of flower paintings.

“The exhibition has a couple of paintings which are 8ft tall – I do some of the largest water colour paintings in the world.

“I paint all the time. My life is art and dominated by it everywhere I go.”

The contemporary artist was born on 5 December 1951 in Birkenhead. He attended Park High School and went on to study at Laird School of Art in Birkenhead.

Now living in Brighton he regularly returns to visit his 94-year-old mum and watch Liverpool FC games.

Graham’s last exhibition at the Williamson was The Green Room in 1995.

He is close friends with rock star Peter Gabriel and has directed his music videos.

Graham added: “I directed videos for Peter Gabriel – Salisbury Hill and In Your Eyes. Peter has been a close friend of mine for 30 years. We play tennis together.

“It is strange to be exhibiting at the Williamson Gallery, it’s very personal to come back to where you grew up.”

Colin Simpson, curator of the gallery, said: “Water colours may be a traditional medium, but there is nothing timid or tentative about Graham’s work.”

The Williamson Art Gallery and Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am-5pm.