Maggi Hambling

Maggi Hambling is a celebrated British painter and sculptor, renowned for her expressive portraits and lyrical depictions of landscapes and seascapes. Hambling began her artistic training locally at Cedric Morris and Lett Haines’ East Anglian School of Painting and Drawing in 1960, later continuing her studies at the Ipswich (1962–64), Camberwell (1964–67), and Slade (1967–69) Schools of Art. In 1980, she became the first contemporary artist invited to be artist-in-residence at the National Gallery, London.  She is especially known for her self-portraits and portraits of influential figures, including her mentor Lett Haines, the artist Francis Bacon, and the chemist Dorothy Hodgkin. These portraits, characterised by rapid, gestural strokes, encapsulate the emotional essence of their subjects, reflecting Hambling’s fearless engagement with the immediacy of life. Beyond painting, Hambling has created a number of major public sculptures, including A Conversation with Oscar Wilde (1998), installed in central London, and Scallop (2003), on Aldeburgh beach, a tribute to composer Benjamin Britten. In recognition of her significant contributions to the arts, Hambling was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2010.