Best of British - 60 Years of Contemporary Art

Colley Ison Gallery proudly presents a stunning collection covering 60 years of British Art, from a 1962 signed William Gear silk-screen (one of the originators of this printing method)  through the YBAs such as Damien Hirst, to new paintings by gallery founder Reuben Colley.

A visitor to Birmingham in the late 19^th century would have encountered a city buzzing with the latest ideas in art and design. The Birmingham School of Art, the first municipal art school in the country, was promoting the avant-garde Arts & Crafts movement, and encouraging women to break new ground.  The brand-new Art Gallery, bankrolled by philanthropic industrialists, was busy collecting examples of good design from around the world, to inspire Birmingham artisans.  Jump forward a few decades, and we find Birmingham at the forefront of British Surrealism.  This is a city with an outstanding artistic heritage, and art is still at the centre of Birmingham’s cultural life.

Since 2010, Colley Ison Gallery has played a leading role in promoting the careers of British artists.  Reuben Colley who founded the gallery has devoted the past quarter of a century to capturing on canvas the evolving cityscape of his native Birmingham.  Colley’s paintings don’t portray royalty or prime ministers.  Instead, they chronicle graffiti-covered urban concrete, overgrown pathways, tower blocks and car parks; forgotten and unloved corners that so many of us overlook.
Since first opening its doors in Moseley, the Colley Ison Gallery has not only promoted the work of its founder. It has also brought some of today’s best contemporary painters and sculptors to Birmingham, several of whom have connections to the city and the surrounding areas.

Since moving to Colmore Row, in the heart of the financial district, Colley Ison Gallery has also become known as one of the Midlands’ most significant dealers in British born blue-chip artists such as Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, David Hockney and L. S. Lowry. 

We will hang a small selection of these amazing works in the gallery, but anything shown on our website is available to purchase, or view by appointment.

Works on show are displayed on the 'In the Gallery' carousel on the home page of the website.

We have an amazing collection of works available by the following British Artists.
Please click each name below to view each artist.
Damien Hirst
James Byrne
David Hockney
Annette Pugh
Bridget Riley
Reuben Colley
Mark Godwin
Danny Howes
Peter Blake
Horace Panter
Roxana Halls
George Shaw
Grayson Perry
Rick Garland
William Gear
Banksy
Stephen Earl-Rogers
Goldie
Harland Miller
Tracey Emin
Julian Opie
L.S.Lowry
Jacob Chandler

We are an inclusive gallery. There are no charges to visit us and view the collections, so please do come and visit, everyone is welcome.