- James Mylne
- Dec 12, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: May 4
Summary
ARTIST: James Robert Mylne
PRACTICE: Fine Artist, specializing in ballpoint photorealism
EXHIBITIONS: Exhibiting since 2008.
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LOCATION: London
EDUCATION: BA degree in Drawing and MA degree, Camberwell College of Arts, London.
Some Pics
Some More Info
Mylne's first solo exhibition was at The Conningsby Gallery in Fitzrovia, London in 2008. It was the first ever exhibition in Europe showcasing photo realistic ballpoint artwork, possibly in the world.
His most recent exhibition was a solo solo show called “Something Classy AF”, with Ad Lib Gallery in Wimbledon, London, for more see this page here.
One drawing on average takes between 120 – 250 hours to complete. The longest ever taken was a recent artwork from 2021 that took exactly 495 hours!- more info on it here.
Born & based in London, with art shown internationally such as New York (2016), LA, Milan, Paris, Ibiza and recently at a solo exhibition held in Portugal.
When he did a project for Bic (maker of the ballpoint pens) a video was published of him drawing “The Girl With The Pearl Earring” that now has had about 750,000 views on YouTube. See the video here. The artwork also made it onto UK News shows and print & online newspapers.
He also did a project for Microsoft Surface, creating drawings on their Surface Pro tablet using the digital pen. The ‘reveal’ was in the Masters section of The National Portrait Gallery, more info & video here.
He’s collaborated with famous photographers such as Terry o’Neill, Ex Rolling Stones guitarist Bill Wyman, Roger Eaton, and more.
Mylne wrote the preface for a book about Ballpoint Art. For more information, view on Amazon here.
Some More Pics
Frequently Asked Questions
• What made you start creating artworks with ballpoint?
As a teen I discovered the benefits of using ballpoint pens over pencil for creating photo realistic artworks. It has a more graphic outcome, a true Black compared to pencil or charcoal. The point used well is ideal for technical detail, and unlike a pencil never needs sharpening.
I heard ballpoint ink can fade, How do you deal with sensitivity to the light etc?
I have drawings I did in the early 1990s in ballpoint pen that still look exactly the same now as when I created them. Sometimes one or two would fade at the beginning when I started drawing properly. I quickly worked out why. Its about the paper type/quality, UV light protection, no skin contact. Further more, In recent years I've discovered a type of aerosol fixative that I spray in multiple layers over every artwork. This chemically seals and secures the ink.
What is the hardest aspect of using ball-point pens to create art?
Well you can’t make any mistakes. It’s not just permanent, you can’t go over mistakes like you can in paint. You can only make things darker. This demands serious focus and careful control which adds to the time consuming aspect of working with it too.
Why do you favour the BIC biro?
To be honest I haven’t tried many other types of ballpoint but the ones I have, have never out performed the Bic. Mostly because I find the grip a Bic has on the ball is a little looser than other brands which allows a slightly higher degree of versatility for fine control and allowing a regular flow of ink out of the pen. Obviously I have to take measures to ensure that flow doesn’t result in a big blob (by regular wiping and other stuff).
Public Exhibitions
2008 – solo show – Coningsby Gallery, West London
2008 – group show – Black Rat Press, Shoreditch, East London
2009 – solo show – “Piece of No-Mind”, Maverik Showroom, Shoreditch, London
2010 – solo show – Canvas Gallery, Wimbledon, London
2010 – group show – Stolen Space Gallery, East London
2011 – solo show – Good Human Studios, Camden, London
2011 – group show – Stolen Space Gallery, Shoreditch, London
2012 – group show – Rook & Raven gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2012 – solo show – “Vintage Vogue”, Rook & Raven gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2013 – group show – “Terry O’Neil: Reworked”, Rook & Raven gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2014 – group show – Thompson’s Contemporary, Chelsea, London (now closed)
2014 – group show – “The Collective”, West Bank Gallery, Notting Hill, London
2014 – solo show – “Something More”, Pop up space, Kings rd, London
2015 – group show – “Beyond The Hype”, Darren Baker Gallery, Fitzrovia, London
2015 – group show – “The Collective”, West Bank Gallery, Notting Hill, London
2015 – group show – “Urban In Ibiza 7”, Atzaro, Ibiza, Spain
2015 – group show – “The Other Art Fair”, Truman Brewery, Shoreditch, London
2016 – group show – “MIX3”, The Underdog Gallery, London Bridge, London
2016 – group show – “RCA Secret”, RCA Gulbenkian Gallery, Kensington, London
2016 – solo show – “Grandly Grimey”, Westbank Gallery, Notting Hill, London
2016 – group show – “London Ibiza Collective”, Soho Art Space Gallery, Little Italy, New York
2017 – group show – “Art Below LA”, Grand Union Station LA & Sur la Mur Gallery, Hollywood, Los Angeles
2017 – solo show -Resident artist at Coya members club and restaurant, Mayfair, London
2017 – group show – “Buy Art Fair”, Glossop Gasworks, Manchester
2017 – group show – ING Discerning Eye, Mall Galleries, London
2017 – group show – “Art Wars Miami”, Red Dot Art Fair, Miami
2019 – solo show – “A Decade of Shady Business”, Fitzrovia Gallery, London
2020 – group show – Affordable Art Fair, Battersea , London
2021 – solo show – Art Catto Gallery, Algarve, Portugal
2022 – solo show – “Triple S”, Blenehim Crescent, Notting Hill, London
2022 – group show – “Art Save The Queen”, OXO Gallery, London
2023 – group show – Affordable Art Fair, Battersea , London
2023 – group show – The Lost Warhols, AdLib Gallery, Wimbledon, London
2023 – solo show – “Underground Chic”, Atelier Auto Art, Westfields, London
2024 – group show – Affordable Art Fair, Battersea , London
2025 – solo show – "Something Classy AF", Ad Lib Gallery, London