About my work
I am excited by colour and feel exhilarated as I handle paint – pure plastic colour! I use colour as a means of expressing my excitement and sense of joy about the Creation all around me – I paint mostly landscapes and abstracts inspired by life in all its glorious colour and vitality. My paintings are mostly acrylic on canvas although I also paint on board or paper and in oil or watercolour.

My method in landscape painting is to simplify form and to harmonise colour over the flat surface. The observed colour of objects may be changed or heightened and the harmony is created by the careful placement of complementary and contrasting colours. The use and juxtaposition of colour are of prime importance in my work with the effect of subordinating representational elements as can be seen in the ‘Chimneys’ series. My abstract work includes a method of painting I have been developing called ‘abstract graphism’ whereby a written text or emotion is represented by graphical and colour elements that can be ‘read’ to discover the underlying meaning, ‘The Commandments’ being an example. I have also been exploring the fusion of landscape with abstraction such as in the painting ‘South Darenth’.

My prints are mostly digital with some etchings and a few screen prints. The screen prints comprise blocks of uniform colour that are carefully arranged to convey moods and feelings using effects of colour juxtaposition. My etchings range from simple black images of motifs that appeal to me to abstracts of colour. My digital prints are made with the use of a computer and a high grade ink-jet printer using stable pigment-based ink; the digital prints start as a sheet of blank electronic ‘paper’ and are ‘drawn’ or ‘painted’ using an electronic pen. The digital prints include series such as ‘Vertigo’, ‘Flight’, ‘Transitions’ and ‘Dreams’.

Agent
I am represented by an agent called Abbie Cooke who is the Co-Founder Director of Gig-Arts Ltd.

Please direct your enquiries to Abbie who can be contacted on T: 07810 793 390 or E: abbie@abbiecooke.com.

My work can be viewed on her website at: http://www.gig-arts.com/art/mikefryer.php

Exhibitions (Various, including):
2001 short-listed for the ‘Corner Art Prize', London.
2001 selected for the ‘By Hand 3’ exhibition at the County Gallery, Maidstone.
2002 selected for the ‘By Hand 4’ exhibition at the County Gallery, Maidstone.
2003 exhibited at the 'Contemporary Print' show at London Print Studio.
2004 short-listed for the Arundell Trust Art Exhibition Prize and exhibited at St Ethelburga’s, Bishopsgate, London.
2004 three works (comprising 14 canvases) accepted for the ICI/LDAF exhibition ‘Still Inspired’ running for one year at ICI Corporate Centre, London.
2005 exhibition 'La Joie de Vivre' at Nevill Gallery, Canterbury.
2005 surgery on both shoulders - not much painting for nearly a year!
2006 part of 'By Hand 8' at Dartford Public Library during December.
2007 solo show 'Listening Colour' Dashwood Gallery, Hall Place and Gardens, Bexley, Kent.
2007 part of 'ko-ax' open art competition, Mascalls Gallery, Paddock Wood, Kent.
2007 joint exhibition 'From Eden to... Eternity' Regional Countrystudy Museum of Cherkassy, Ukraine
2008 work exhibited at BT Wholesale, London
2008 work exhibited at Baltic Exchange, London
2008 work exhibited at LloydsTSB, London
2008 solo show at Npower Corporate Centre, Swindon
2009 joint exhibition at BT Wholesale, London
2010 joint work exhibited at reception at British Olympic Association and Paralympic Association, London.
2010 joint exhibition at BT Wholesale, London.
2010 exhibition at Employers' Forum on Disability
2010 joint exhibition British Olympic Association and Paralympic Association, London.
2010 solo work exhibited at reception at House of Lords (organised by Employers' Forum on Disability).

Member of South East Open Studios since 2000.

Works in collections:
Two works in the ICI Permanent Collection, Manchester Square, London: a single canvas 'Heaven and Earth' and a ten canvas work entitled 'The Commandments'.

Awards/Residencies:
June 2002 awarded a residency at London Print Studio.
July 2002 awarded a grant from Southern & South East Arts to develop digital artwork.
Feb 2007 'Artist of the Month' National Disability Arts Forum (www.ndaf.org).
May 2009 Accepted on the 'Sync SE' leadership in the arts development programme, a two-year training course funded by Arts Council England, South East with funds from Accentuate

Publications:
1989: Co-author and joint illustrator ‘The Woodland Ecology Pack’, published by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd.
2001: ‘Painting in harmony’ article in South East Arts ‘Disabled People and the Arts’ Newsletter.
2005: Various paintings featured in 'Limited Edition' magazine and 'Focus' magazine.
2006: Fryer MJ. Complementarity. Optics and Laser Technology; 38: 417–430. A discussion and investigation of complementary colour featuring two paintings by the author.
2009 Fryer MJ. Sensations from Nature. International Journal of Design & Nature and Ecodynamics; 4, No. 3 (2009) 219–227.

2010 In progress: 'Living Colour' an examination of colour in plants and painting. Botanical Briefings.