NATIONALITY: Trinidadian.
EDUCATION:San Fernando Boys R.C.
St. Thomas Aquinas High School.
EXHIBITIONS:1988- Caribbean Art Community Exhibition of Fine Arts.
1992- (Solo) Exhibition celebrating the re-opening of Naparima Bowl, San Fernando.
1992- (Solo) Exhibition at Royal Bank High Street, San Fernando.
1995- (Solo) Exhibition at Hotel Normandie Gallery 1.2.3.4
2005- Collaborated with Photographer Mr. Ganet Ifill in an exhibition titled “Sando Vision” as part of Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C Church heritage week.
2011- (Solo) Exhibition at Our Lady of Perpetual Help R.C Church in celebrating 225th Jubilee.
PUBLICATIONS: Book illustration – Tamara’s Metamorphosis. Written by Sarah Ali.
AWARDS: 1989: Certificate of High Standard of Achievements by the Society of Young Artist.
BIOGRAPHY:
Russel Paul Raymond Banfield born 21st May, 1963.His parents Raymond and Joslyn Banfield originated from Grenada. They came to Trinidad when they got married, they are Catholics and a couple of his early work showed influence of this. Russel's early childhood was a happy and stable one for his parents believed in their marriage, by which he grew strength, and knew what he wanted early in life so he spent most of his preteen and teen years practicing to be an aspiring artist. At St. Thomas Aquinas he never had an art teacher but this never bothered him for he knew he had a gift and did not need any formal training in painting, the necessary skills came naturally to him. He found himself becoming more serious in art when he was loyally supported by many indulgent friends and a school teacher who commissioned his first painting. People express their love for his paintings, the details and the peace which is evoked in a Topographical Style. Russel makes use of pictures combining them with weekly site visits to achieve his standard of accuracy. He has retained a strong affection for his hometown of San Fernando; he rarely experiments with other paints since he developed a feel for oil paints. One art piece with standard size 24” x 36” takes four to six weeks for completion. Over his thirty years of painting he has developed a vast clientele of avid collectors of his work from Former Prime Minister, Former Chief Justice, Lawyers, Doctors, Ambassadors, Business Owners, Private and State Companies to simply everyday people who appreciates his talent.
ARTIST STATEMENT:
I am a self-taught artist specialized in Topographical paintings for over thirty years, a style which is highly accurate yet imaginative. Like the great masters my medium of choice is oil on canvas.
My goal is to satisfy the need in people to connect the past with the present, like Michael J Cazabon,I strive to not create new styles but to record history. Also, to inspire young people in anyway God wants me to through my art, standing my motto “Success or fail is due largely to mental attitude rather than mental capacity.”