Darren Cairney

Originally from Selkirk in the Scottish Borders, Darren Cairney is currently based in South Tyneside. He studied illustration at Newcastle College and graduated from the University of Sunderland with a degree in Environmental Illustration. He then worked as a graphic designer before deciding to revisit his art practice in 2014. He has exhibited regionally, including at Fenwick Newcastle and The Customs House, South Shields. in 2022 he was included in the contest for the Scottish Portrait Awards as well as appearing on Portrait Artist of the Year.

Darren mainly produces street portraits in acrylic paint, showing his interest in capturing candid moments of people in his vicinity. He often attempts to transplant his subjects into arbitrary and ambiguated locations, illuminating realistic representations of life captured within a moment of time rather than the specific place.