SUMMARY
At the age of eight James saw a small landscape painting by John Constable. Since then his work has been predominantly focused on landscape painting, from the domesticity of paintings of country houses to paintings generated from physically demanding expeditions over remote mountains across the world. However he has also worked on a variety of projects including a residency with The British Secret Intelligence Service, accompanied HRH The Prince of Wales on foreign tours, painted in war zones embedded with the British Forces and worked with the producers of the James Bond Films.
The writings of John Ruskin and William Wordsworth have been influential on his work and he has an interest in the relationship between the Romantic Movement and the birth of the aesthetic appreciation of mountain landscapes.
James has discussed his painting expeditions with Libby Purves on BBC Radio Four. The Guardian described his landscape painting as ‘an extreme Art’ and the The International Art Newspaper said ‘Hart Dykes’ ability to capture the essence of the landscape and the fleeting effects of light and colour place him firmly among the best of the British school of ‘plein air’ painters’
LANDSCAPE/MOUNTAIN PROJECTS
Patagonia 2018 , The Alps, Whympers Alps Exhibition 2016, UK Landscapes, Country House Paintings and Architecture , Himalayas, Atlas Mountains
RESIDENCIES/PROJECTS
‘Artist in residence’ for the British Secret Intelligence Service 2011.
Worked with the producers of the James Bond films.
War Artist embedded with British Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Artist in residence for Aston Martin.
Artist in residence at St Albans High School for Girls 2017, Sunday Times Independent School of the Year 2015-16
CONSERVATION
As a landscape artist James has a deep concern for the conservation and future of our natural environment.
A patron of the Nepal Trust, a charity bringing sustainable development in Humla, a remote part of the Nepalese Himalayas.
PORTRAIT WORK
Portrait work shown at the National Portrait Gallery and at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters exhibitions.
EDUCATION
Royal College of Art MA Architecture 90/92,
Manchester University BA(Hons) Architecture 86/89
City and Guilds of London Art School Postgraduate Diploma in Painting 96/97
TEACHING
Prince of Wales Drawing School, Shoreditch, London
The Art Academy, Southwark, London
Artist in residence at St Albans High School for Girls 2017
PRESS
RADIO
BBC Radio 4. Interviewed by Mark Lawson on Front Row 14th Feb 2011
BBC World Service 20th Feb 2011BBC Radio 4.
Interviewed by Libby Purves on Midweek , 22nd Oct 2003
BBC World Service. Interviewed by Rachel Rawlins, 24th Dec 2004
Deutschlandradio Kultur . Interviewed by Louise Brown. 11th Dec 2011
TV
BBC National 10 O’clock News, February 2011
ITN National News, February 2011
CNN Arts Documentary, March 2011
FILM
James’s painting of the MI6 headquarters appears in the James Bond film ‘Skyfall’
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Patagonia 2018 John Mitchell Fine Paintings, 17 Avery Row, Mayfair, London 2018
London: Cityscapes and Interiors John Mitchell Fine Paintings, 17 Avery Row, Mayfair, London 2017
Whymper’s Alps 150 years on John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Old Bond Street, London 2015
Hong Kong: Beijing Delahunty Fine Art, Bruton Street. Mayfair, London 2014
Landscapes : James Hart Dyke John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Old Bond Street, London 2012
Everything or Nothing/ James Bond 007 Mount Street Galleries, Mayfair, London 2012
A year with MI6 Mount Street Galleries, Mayfair, London 2011
War and Cake Beaux Arts, Bath 2009
Royal Tours John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Old Bond Street, London 2007
Hidden Himalaya John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Old Bond Street, London 2006
The High Atlas John Mitchell Fine Paintings, Old Bond Street, London 2005
Everest Painting Expedition John Mitchell and Son, Old Bond St, London 2004
Painting in the Hidden Himalayas WH Patterson Fine Art, London 2003
Visions of a Travelling Artist John Mitchell and Son, New Bond Street 2002
Paintings from the Alps WH Patterson Fine, London Art 2001
Paintings from Nepal WH Patterson Fine Art, London 1999
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Nature Morte Exhibition, Guildhall, London 2017-2018
James Bond 50th Anniversary World Tour Travelling exhibition. 2014-2017. Barbican Gallery, London
50 Years of James Bond Exhibition, Christie’s, South Kensington, London 2014
Kibera, A Soho House Project, Mount Street Galleries, London 2011
BP Portrait Award National Portrait Gallery 1997, 2000 and 2005
Postcard Portraits Exhibition National Portrait Gallery 2006
Beaux Arts, Bath 2005, 2006
Discerning Eye Mall Galleries 2001, 2007
Painting and Patronage The Banqueting House, London together with HRH The Prince of Wales and HRH Prince Khalid Al-Faisal Al-Saud 2000
Travels with the Prince: A Fiftieth Birthday Exhibition Selected by HRH The Prince of Wales. Hampton Court Palace 1998
The Artist and The Country House from the Fifteenth Century to the Present Day Sotheby’s, London 1997