Dr. Ade Ogundimu, born in London, England, has established a distinguished career in the fine arts, characterised by a solid educational background and numerous accolades. His comprehensive art training began at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Nigeria, where he earned his OND in General Art and HND in Fine Art. He furthered his education in London, obtaining a Diploma in Photolithography and Graphics from the University of the Arts. His commitment to continuous learning led him to acquire a Certificate in Printing from the same institution, complete a short course in Pop Art at the University of Oxford, and ultimately achieve a BA (Hons) in Fine Art with a major in Sculpture from the University of East London. Dr. Ogundimu further advanced his academic credentials with an MA in Fine Art and a Professional Doctorate in Fine Art (DProf) from the University of East London. Throughout his career, he has been recognised for his creative contributions. Early on, he received the Most Innovative Staff Award from NTA Abeokuta and the Graphic Staff Award. His outstanding work was later honoured with the Buckingham Aviary Art Award. More.
Anthony Ndikanwu, born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, is an artist and educator who majored in sculpture at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. His career began with lecturing at Kano State Polytechnic, where he taught drawing and painting and received the NYSC Certificate of Merit for outstanding performance. He later expanded his artistic practice across Nigeria before relocating to Europe, where he lived in Turkey and Greece and currently resides in the United Kingdom.
Anthony’s artistic journey shifted after completing an MFA at the University of Portsmouth, moving towards intuitive and less figurative content. His works often incorporate hidden images and messages, utilising repetitive patterns and traditional Nigerian designs like uli and nsibidi to enrich their themes. Primarily using acrylics, he also incorporates wood and ceramic tiles for distinctive pieces that explore themes ranging from satire to social commentary. More
Chike Azuonye is a dedicated artist and arts educator with extensive experience in painting and digital origination. He earned a BA in Fine Art from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, followed by an Advanced Diploma in Professional Studies from the Institute of Education, University of London, and a Diploma in Digital Origination from the University of the Arts, Camberwell, London.
Throughout his career, Chike has been recognised for his artistic excellence, including receiving the Best Artist of the Year award from the NYSC in Enugu. He is Vice President of the Nigerian Art Society UK (NAS UK). More
Chinwe Chukwuogo-Roy, MBE, born May 2, 1952, in Ondo State, Nigeria, was a highly respected Nigerian-British artist celebrated for her portraiture, figurative works, and vibrant depictions of African culture. She moved to the United Kingdom in 1975, where she completed her BA in Fine Art at Hornsey College of Art, University of Middlesex, London. Chukwuogo-Roy gained prominence for her unique style, which combined traditional African art with contemporary techniques, and she worked in various media, including oil, acrylic, watercolour, and printmaking.
Her most notable achievement was being commissioned to paint an official portrait of Queen Elizabeth II in honour of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. This commission brought her significant recognition and cemented her reputation as a leading artist. Chukwuogo-Roy’s works often explored themes of identity, cultural heritage, and social issues and were exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Her pieces are held in private and public collections, including those of prestigious institutions.
Throughout her career, she received various awards and honours, reflecting her contributions to the arts and her influence on the contemporary art scene. She was named UK Woman of the Year twice, represented the European Council Committee in Paris, and featured her work on six countries’ postage stamps. She was also awarded the Member of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to Art. More
Dotun Adegbite, hailing from Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, is a seasoned artist and graphic designer now based in the United Kingdom. His educational journey includes a solid foundation in General Art and Graphic Design at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, where he garnered accolades such as the Gong Gallery Award and the Society of Nigerian Artists Prize for his exceptional talent in painting and graphics.
Adegbite’s career spans influential roles in the advertising industry, where he served as Creative Director at Rosabel Advertising Limited in Lagos and held prestigious positions at international agencies in Madrid and London. His extensive experience includes leadership as Art Group Head at Ogilvy Benson & Mather and roles at Insight Communications Limited.
Alongside his professional endeavours, Adegbite has contributed to academia as a part-time lecturer and moderator at the School of Art, Design & Printing in Lagos. His commitment to artistic expression persisted while he served as a Welfare Rights and Financial Inclusion Manager in the UK, where he continued to develop as a painter, designer, and illustrator. More
Dr Hassan Aliyu, FRSA, is a distinguished British-Nigerian artist and curator renowned for his innovative collaged paintings. As President of the Nigerian Art Society UK, a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists, a committee member of the Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria, and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Dr Aliyu has established a significant presence in the art world. His work offers insightful critiques of racism, socio-economic destabilisation, and the enduring impacts of historical injustices. Dr Aliyu graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, receiving the Nigeria Art Council award for Best Final Year Student. Influenced by the import embargo of 1980s Nigeria, he began employing recyclable materials to create a dialogue between colonial enterprises of the past and the neocolonial consumerism of the present. He later earned a Professional Doctorate in Fine Art from the University of East London, with a thesis titled “Enslaved by Debt: An Artistic Exploration of Africa’s Colonial Legacy. More
Imoesi Imhonigie, born in Edo State, Nigeria, in July 1974, is an accomplished artist based in the United Kingdom. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Painting and General Art from Auchi Polytechnic. After graduation, he embarked on a full-time career as a studio artist and completed a four-year residency at the National Gallery of Art in Lagos, Nigeria. He also served on the Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) executive committee, Lagos chapter.
Imhonigie’s work is deeply influenced by nature, exploring the relationship between the environment and humanity. His oil on canvas paintings, created with a palette knife, reflect the dynamic nature of African culture, traditional religions, and urbanisation. Through his art, he addresses climate change and deforestation, advocating for environmental conservation. More
Kunle Adegborioye, born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, is a distinguished artist and printmaker. He completed his OND in Fine Art at The Polytechnic in Ibadan, followed by an HND in Fine Art at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos. He furthered his education with an MA in Printmaking from the University of the Arts, Camberwell in London.
Throughout his career, Kunle has been recognised with several prestigious awards, including the Didi Award for Best Student in Painting, the Fasuyi Award for Best Student in Pictorial Composition, the Yagil Award for the all-around Best Student in Painting, the Yusuf Grillo Award for the Most Deserving Student in the School of Art, Design, and Printing, and the St. Bartholomew Award for Printmaking.
Kunle is an active member of several esteemed art organisations, including the Nigerian Society of Artists, East London Printmakers, the Nigerian Society of Art UK, and The Alpha Art Group in Nigeria. Professionally, he has served as the N. S. Controller at Victoria Coach Station in London.
Kunle’s artistic contributions are significant, marked by numerous group exhibitions worldwide, such as the International Art Exhibition in Rome, the Society of American Women Exhibition in Lagos, the 5th International Water Colour Exhibition in France, and various shows in London, Berlin, and the United States. More
Lara Ige-Jacks is a distinguished artist and curator who has made significant contributions to painting and printmaking since the late 1980s. Her career spans lecturing at Yaba College of Technology’s Fine Art Department and pivotal roles at Bruce Onobrakpeya’s Ovuomaroro Printmaking Studio/Gallery in Lagos and Bhojsons Textile Industries.
Educated at Yaba College of Technology, where she earned her ND in General Art/HND in Painting, Lara furthered her studies with an M.A. in Printmaking from the University of Arts, Camberwell College, London. Her academic journey began at New Era Girls Secondary School in Surulere, Lagos.
Lara’s artistic achievements include receiving prestigious awards such as the “Our Heroes Award” in London and the Professor Bartholomeu Dos Santos Award for Outstanding Achievement in Printmaking. She remains actively engaged in professional organisations such as the Society of Nigerian Artists and the National Council of Women’s Societies in Nigeria. More
Michael Echekoba, born in East Dulwich, London, has developed extensive experience as a painter and multimedia artist. His artistic journey began at the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), where he completed an OND and HND in Fine Art, specialising in life drawing, painting, and graphic design. He furthered his education with a Diploma in Multimedia from the London College of Communication and a PGCE (LL: DTLLS) in Art and Design from the University of Greenwich.
Throughout his career, Michael has garnered acclaim for his achievements, including awards such as the Head of Department’s Award for Best Student in Life Drawing and Painting during his OND studies and the IMT Award for Best Student in Graphics Design upon completing his HND. In 2003, he was honoured as the Royal Commonwealth Young Artist of the Year. More
Obiageli Okigbo, born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, is a Brussels-based artist known for her diverse and multidisciplinary approach to art. She studied architecture at Oxford Brooks University and the Architectural Association in London, which significantly influenced her work with media such as Indian ink on linen, oil paint, and collage.
In 2005, she founded the Christopher Okigbo Foundation to preserve her father, Christopher Okigbo’s poetic legacy. This connection enriches her art, blending Dutch Masters’ influences with Igbo mythology. Obi has received fellowships from the Wole Soyinka Foundation and an artist residency at COMPEUNG in Thailand.
An active member of NASUK, Obi’s work has been featured in numerous exhibitions, including “Songs for Idoto” in Enugu, “Des Elles des Femmes” in Brussels, and “Ariya: A Celebration of Colour” with the Nigerian Art Society UK. Recently, her triptych “Landscapes of My Childhood Remembered” was displayed in “Picasso Celebration: The Collection in a New Light” at the Musee Picasso Paris. More
Ray Soko, born in Farnborough, UK, is a distinguished artist with a robust academic background in fine arts. He began his art training at Yaba College of Technology in Lagos, Nigeria, before advancing to Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, where he earned both his BA and MFA in Fine Art. His exceptional skills in drawing earned him the Adeoye Award for Best Student in Drawing.
As a full-time artist, Ray Soko has cultivated a prolific career with numerous exhibitions. His work has been featured in several group shows, notably representing the UK at the African Regional Summit & Exhibition on Visual Art (ARESUVA) and participating in exhibitions at the Waterloo Art Centre with the Nigerian Art Society UK. He also showcased his art at Lacey’s Contemporary Art Gallery in London.
Ray’s solo exhibitions highlight his versatility and depth as an artist. These include notable shows at the Didi Museum in Lagos, the Lyric Theatre in London, the Gill Gallery in London, Inalegwu Fine Arts in Washington, and Muswell Hill Library in London for Black History Month. More
Titus Agbara, born in Lagos, obtained his Higher National Diploma in Painting and General Art from the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi. He then embarked on a full-time career as an artist, showcasing his work in numerous group shows, artist talks, private commissions, and solo exhibitions across the UK and various African cities.
Agbara has participated in prestigious art residencies with Professor Ablade Glover and Kofi Setordji under the Ford Foundation scheme. He has also been involved in international projects such as “Imagine Art After” in the UK and has competed in SkyArt’s Portrait Artist of the Year and Landscape Artist of the Year.
Specialising in landscapes and sceneries, Agbara’s elaborate and distinctive technique employs a palette knife, primarily in oil but also in watercolour and pastel. His work reflects honesty and sincerity, inspired by his travels and a desire to influence society positively. More