A Lifetime in Art
Hi, my name is Jim Doran, I am an award-winning artist and portrait painter.
Over the years I have been an art teacher and college lecturer. I have taught art in various schools and colleges in the South West area. I have also managed my own art gallery in Totnes, Devon.
Below are some of the highlights throughout my career.
Awards and Honours
1988
Commendation
Highly commended for a portrait that hung in the Laing gallery.
1989
Frank Forrest Award
I won the Frank Forrest award for my portrait entitled Janette and Hollywood Wives.
1990
Special Merritt Award
Highly commended for a portrait that hung in the Laing gallery.
1991
Newcastle Arts Centre
Work highly commended in the Newcastle Arts Centre
The Newcastle Years
1992
Exploration
Work highly commended in the Newcastle arts center
Started to explore other media with which to work. I produced a lot of watercolour studies of Newcastle during the next 5 years.
1993
TV Props
My work was purchased by Spender productions, a tv production company working on a detective series, my work was used as props on the set.
1995
Growing
I produced a lot of work both original and print of Newcastle and became one of the biggest sole trader artists in the region.
During the next few years I sold my work from Newcastle to people nationwide.
From North-East
to South-West
1996
Moving To Devon
Opened the Plains Gallery in Totnes, Devon. A change of location and scenery brought about changes to my method, subject and media.
1998
Devon Life
My work featured in Devon Life magazine. I did a lot of pastel work on Dartmoor during this time.
1999
Return To Study
Enrolled with the Open University part time, to study a humanities course, which gave me a valuable insight into the faculty of arts/philosophy
Teaching Practice
2001
BA(Hons)
Started a degree course to study art history, with a view to teaching art history and practise. Passed with a BA(Hons) degree.
2003
Plymouth College Of Art And Design
Designed an arts course for Plymouth College of art and design, which then delivered to a class of 15 students.
2005
Swathmore
Worked as a tutor for Swathmore Adult Education, teaching drawing classes.
2007
Sponsored Walk
Walked across Dartmoor, North to South, raising money for NSPCC. That short, but eventful journey changed my perspective on life.
2010
Return To The Studio
Returned to my studio and my art practice, supporting and teaching art as a practicing artist / freelance art tutor.
2018
Writing And Illustrating
Started to write and illustrate a book about my experiences on Dartmoor.