UK artist Kevin Devonport to open new exhibition in London

Award-winning, Yorkshire-born artist Kevin Devonport is set to unveil his latest exhibition, 'Nothing Ordinary Here', at Brokers Wine Bar in Leadenhall Market on October 3rd. The exhibition will feature 12 paintings, exploring themes of consumerism, materiality, and identity. The launch party is on Thursday 3rd October from 5pm.

Kevin's journey into art is an unconventional one, having learnt to paint whilst serving a prison sentence for drug offences. He left school with no qualifications and got his first criminal conviction at the age of 15 for shoplifting. He joined the army aged 17 where he started using cannabis and ecstasy recreationally but moved on to taking heroin after leaving the forces aged 21. He soon started dealing heroin to fund his addiction, leading to a prison sentence of four years in 1996 for possession with intent to supply. In 2003 Kevin was sentenced again for two and a half years for drug offences. In 2008 he was jailed for a fourth time, with a 13 and a half year sentence for his part in a conspiracy to supply heroin.

As an ex-Armed Forces member who served on active duty in Northern Ireland during The Troubles, Kevin attended forum sessions at the prison organised by Care after Combat where he found both his talent and passion for painting. Kevin is a self-taught artist with no formal qualifications although his First-Class Honours BSc in Sociology, achieved during his time in prison, influences much of his work.

Kevin comments ‘I am a really strong advocate for the importance of the arts in terms of rehabilitation; not only for criminal justice but also people in substance recovery, mental health and ex-military personnel.’

Whilst incarcerated, Kevin’s art was recognised with a national Koestler Award. Following his release, he has gained a host of other awards including The Olympic Art Prize, the Leonardo Da Vinci International Award and The Caravaggio Master Artist Award.

He has also embarked on a successful career as an artist, securing a residency at Assembly House studios in Leeds and exhibiting his work across the UK and Europe. 

Alongside being a professional artist, Kevin has worked with offenders and tutored fine art through a group he ran for over two years alongside a veterans and boxing group. He still works in the charity sector and has worked very closely with the charity Care After Combat that caters for veterans who have found themselves within the confines of the justice system. He has revisited prison to share his journey, including returning to speak to his old art class. Kevin has also curated the exhibition for people in the justice system, which was a huge success.

'Nothing Ordinary Here'

Exhibition by Kevin Devonport

Brokers Wine Bar, 9 Leadenhall Market, London EC3V 1LR

Running from 3rd October

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