It is with great sadness that we share the news of contemporary British artist Mike Hall’s recent passing. A much-loved artist, husband, father, creator and friend, Mike and his elegantly familiar, inviting paintings touched the hearts and imaginations of many. His passing is a great loss for the artistic community and for those fortunate enough to know him.
Mike’s love of the arts was a lifelong affair, showing both passion and promise from early childhood. He committed to deepening his knowledge and honing his skills from the age of 11, going on to complete his studies at Manchester College of Art and later the Royal College of Art in London. After an early career in interior design and architectural painting, Mike transitioned into the world of television and film, where he thrived as a set designer for over 20 years. It was here that he discovered his unique understanding of space, lighting and contrast—skills that would later become central to his painting.
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By the time he retired from set design in the mid-90s to pursue painting full time, Mike had developed a style all his own, refined over decades of creative exploration. His use of colour, light, and contrast reflected a quiet mastery, while his thoughtfully composed compositions, always absent of people but rich with the suggestion of life, set a welcoming tone of warmth and familiarity. Inarguably linked to his background in set design and film, Mike’s work had a cinematic quality that extended far beyond the frame.
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One of the things that made Mike’s paintings so special is that they were so much more than just single works of art; they were invitations. Bathed in natural light and beckoning with breezy open doors, set tables and inviting, empty chairs, Mike gently composed and invited us into grounding moments of peace and solitude equally connected to a larger, shared experience. In a world that spins at an increasingly dizzying pace, Mike graciously provided an alternative plane on which to pause, reflect, and recentre—a gift for which we shall remain ever grateful.
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Mike, his vision and his work will be deeply missed by his family, friends, fellow artists and the many collectors and admirers who so easily found peace, solace and simple pleasures within his work. His legacy lives on in his paintings, each one a quiet, joyful invitation to all.
To view Mike Hall's remaining collection of original paintings, visit his artist page.
