The celebrated contemporary English artist, Piran Strange, works using various mediums, with an emphasis on oil paintings on a large scale. ‘Piran Strange’ is in fact David Barrie. David chose Piran as his artistic alter-ego some years ago, as a means of exploring his hidden creative talents and passion for the Arts. Nominated as a member of the Arts Club, he is highly regarded within the London art scene.

The name Piran Strange derives from Saint Piran, the patron saint of tin-miners, who is generally regarded as the national saint of Cornwall. Saint Piran’s ancestry is largely a mystery, and this has left those looking to find out more, with the task of sifting through documents to find and interpret clues, much of which was written many years after his lifetime. This sense of mystery is found in many of Piran’s works. The works have been compared to a ‘magic eye’ puzzle where an image lies buried inside. Symbolism and iconography enter his works, there to be interpreted by the curious viewer but not necessarily immediately understood.

There is a bold elegance in his brush strokes and a divinity of colour in his palette; grace and power of movement in the production of works such as Blue Riviera and Deep Purple and Midnight Pools 2. Often geometric in style, Piran’s influences include the acclaimed British painter Bridget Riley.

Piran Strange’s choice of subject matters, including M1 and Power Station perhaps explain David’s choice for his alter-ego’s surname. His titles are often surprising and unusual within the context of the art world.

Piran’s success has resulted in his work becoming a soughtafter commodity in investment houses and exchanges both in the UK and abroad. ‘Pirans’ can be found adorning the walls of City companies that include The Benfield Group, RKH Insurance Brokers Ltd, Fox Pitt Kelton, Maxcap Partners and AXIS Capital Holdings. Privately the popular Piran Strange is collected by The Beckett Family Trust, The Hedley Foundation (Australia), Neil Eckert, James Findlay, the O’Keefe Collection and the Galerie des Aigles under the curatorship of the chevalier Jean Hammond amongst others.

When not creating masterpieces, Piran Strange endeavours to support charitable causes with the creation of bursaries and scholarships for art students and The Piran Strange Art Prize which aims to support emerging young artists.