Josh Hollingshead is a self-taught artist from Swanage in Dorset. His work is predominantly figurative with strong narratives that reflect socio-political situations in the places he has visited.
Starting at the age of 14 he began drawing by copying the old masters, and at 16 he moved on to painting on canvas, dedicating himself to painting. He adapts his technique for each new painting; be it through use of metallic underlayers and/or phosphorescent acrylic, for creating glow in the dark images, viscous thick oils or powdery paint rubbed into the canvas. The symbolism of colours fascinates him.
The large scale and varied, heightened colour of his canvases create a sense the spectator could enter the painting, wherein myriad vignettes tell a story, and details at the margins of a scene reveal hidden meanings. Hollingshead has gradually developed several series of paintings on social, religious and environmental themes. Lots of his work is held by Primavera Gallery in Cambridge.
From May 22nd- 24th 2026, 11am- 4pm a new exhibition EXTENDED VIEW will be held at The Loft Swanage Community Centre showing paintings and prints which cannot be shown in the studio/ gallery. All are welcome to visit, The Loft is opposite Hollingshead Studio Gallery in Commercial Road, Swanage.
Before and after the above exhibition, all are welcome to come and see paintings, prints, drawings, engravings and works in progress at 25 Commercial Road, Swanage, Dorset, UK, BH19 1DF . Some originals and limited edition prints are available for more information contact joshhollingshead@outlook.com
In 2024 he exhibited locally in Dorset, his exhibition Paintings of Madagascar was in The Mowlem in Swanage from February-April. For Dorset Art Week he showed some of his landscapes with Rufus Knight Webb in his home in Lulworth. Lastly, there was a large exhibition at the Fine Foundation Gallery at Durlston Castle.
