Fadi Mikhail was born in Harlow, Essex in 1984 to Egyptian parents. Before graduating from The Slade School of Fine Art, London, Fadi was apprenticed to the renowned Egyptian icon-painter Prof. Isaac Fanous in Los Angeles, where he trained as an iconographer. In 2013, Fadi was commissioned by Royal Mail to produce their 2013 Christmas stamp ‘Theotokos’. Soon after he was again commissioned to produce 2 matching icons for HRH Prince of Wales and his recently born grandson Prince George. Several churches and cathedrals worldwide are decorated with paintings by the artist, and he is equally collected by international ambassadors and clergy.
Fadi’s work has always taken 2 parallel routes – that of Egyptian Christian (Coptic) Iconography (work can be seen at www.ukcopticicons.com), and that of figurative oil painting.
The subjects or inspiration for his figurative works are drawn from his love of all things literary, childlike and fantastic. From stories like Mary Poppins, Narnia, Charlie and The Chocolate Factory and Peter Pan, Fadi celebrates images and stories he has enjoyed since his youth.
From European folklore, to Roald Dahl's fictional characters, to Walt Disney’s films, Fadi remains determined to relive images of his youth by painting them over and over in thick semi-abstracted daubs of oil until a satisfactory balance of shape, colour, line and structure has been found. It is this pushing and pulling of paint to create the same 'hard-won' image spoken of about Frank Auerbach and Leon Kossoff's work that Fadi finds most interesting.
Gallery Representation
Highgate Contemporary Art
Hayletts Gallery, Maldon
LuminaireArts.co.uk
Notable Commissions
HRH Prince of Wales
TRHs Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
Royal Mail (Christmas Stamp 2013)
Ambassador of Russia
Baroness Cox
Exhibitions:
2017
UPCOMING EXHIBITION
Fadi Mikhail - recent paintings and drawings
Highgate Contemporary Art, London (13th Dec - 7th Jan)
Sky Arts Landscape Artist Of the Year 2017
Participant
Essex Men Artists
Hayletts Gallery, Maldon
2016
Noel Noel, A Winter Collection
Highgate Contemporary Art, London
Graham Webber and Fadi Mikhail (2-man show)
Aubrey Art Gallery, Great Dunmow
2015
Summer Exhibition: Washington Green
Castle Fine Art, ICC, Birmingham
Summer Mixed Exhibition
Hayletts Gallery, Maldon
Summer In Highgate
Highgate Contemporary Art, London
Picasso: Masters Past & Future
Gallery Rouge, Harpenden
Royal College of Art
20/21 International Art Fair (Highgate Contemporary Art)
New English Art Club Open Exhibition
Shortlisted
2014
Present Arts
Parndon Mill, Harlow
2012
Fadi Mikhail, A Solo Exhibition
Hillingdon House, Old Harlow
Media & Press
Featured Artist - British Philatelic Bulletin (Nov 2013)
Featured Artist - Design Week Online (Oct 2013)
Guest Artist - Premier Radio (2011, '12, '13)
