Gonzalo Blanco North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

• 
• 

  Back to profiles Invite to apply

Gonzalo paints everyday places in a representational style rooted in classical technique, seeking moments of warmth, light and presence. Working alongside his research into rare diseases, he partners with non-profits to use art as a way of drawing attention to overlooked conditions.

I paint every day, alongside a full-time academic career, balancing two practices that increasingly inform one another. I began studying art in 2018 while working as a lecturer in Genetics at the University of York, initially rekindling a childhood passion and seeking a more meaningful use of my time beyond research. My scientific work focuses on inherited muscle disorders, rare conditions that often struggle to attract sustained funding. This can be a frustrating space, shaped by urgency but limited attention. Painting became a necessary counterbalance that provided clarity and renewal. I have pursued my artistic training independently, grounding my practice in classical principles developed over centuries. These methods continue to resonate because of their capacity to convey beauty, structure and emotional truth. What began as a parallel interest has grown into a central part of my life, encouraged by the response to exhibitions and public engagement with my work. In recent years, and as I move closer to retirement from academia, I have expanded my artistic activity through gallery exhibitions, open studios and continued study with academies in the UK and USA. My continuous aim is to develop a level of fluency where technique no longer limits expression. Whether painting a landscape, a street scene or a figure, I seek to respond directly to what I see and feel, capturing not just appearance, but the atmosphere, energy and honesty of every day moments.