Ian Bruce (painter)

Ian Bruce was educated at Eton College and Edinburgh College of Art.{{cite web|url=https://www.mylondon.news/whats-on/arts/painter-ian-bruce-creates-mythology-6011714|title=Painter Ian Bruce creates his own mythology|date=16 January 2009|access-date=4 February 2011|publisher=The Hounslow Chronicle}} His degree show included pictures of people in a care home, which were described by The Scotsman as 'lively and sympathetic'.{{cite web|url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/visual-arts/At-last-an-independent-republic.3297665.jp|title=At last, an independent republic of ideas|author=Macmillan, Duncan|date= 22 June 2007|publisher=The Scotsman|access-date=11 February 2011}} While at Edinburgh, he became MC for a group of DJs called 'Trouble'. However, he said to Leeds University Online Student Magazine, that by the time he finished at Edinburgh he was looking for something different, and that he felt that his "insistence on wearing a three piece suit for gigs was a little incongruous with the general vibe."{{cite web|url=http://www.leedsstudent.org/2009-10-30/life-and-style/clubs/the-correspondents|publisher=LeedsStudent|title=The Correspondents|date=30 October 2009|access-date=24 February 2011|author=Stewart, Charles}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

In 2009 he was selected as one of the Courvoisier 'Future 500' people expected to be a success in their various fields.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/courvoisier500/4|title=The Courvoisier Future 500|work=The Guardian|access-date=4 February 2011|location=London|date=1 December 2008}}

Bruce's primary interest is in portraiture, and he has painted subjects including pupils at Eton College, and a portrait of Sebastian Horsley. In 2009, he also began a project to paint portraits over skype video-chat, giving him the ability to take commissions from people living abroad.{{cite web|url=http://www.murmurart.com/news/commission-a-skype-portrait|title=Commission a skype portrait|date=16 October 2009|publisher=murmur Art|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714133924/http://www.murmurart.com/news/commission-a-skype-portrait|archive-date=14 July 2011|url-status=dead}} He has held exhibitions in London and Edinburgh including a collaboration with Rose Davey, and a show in the Cosa Gallery in Notting Hill.{{cite web|url=http://www.isendyouthis.com/exhibitions-list.aspx?id=105484|title=Ian Bruce and Rose Davey|access-date=4 February 2011|publisher=isendyouthis.com}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thompsonsgallery.co.uk/ian-bruce|title=Ian Bruce|publisher=Thompson's Galleries|year=2010|access-date=24 February 2011}}

Bruce was also the lead singer and MC of DJ/MC duo The Correspondents, described by the Evening Standard as 'the kings of hip-hop swing' and by the Hounslow Chronicle as having developed 'a reputation for setting parties alight'.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23888704-hail-the-kings-of-hip-hop-swing.do|title=Hail the kings of hip-hop swing|author=Stewart, Victoria|date=18 October 2010|publisher=The Evening Standard|access-date=4 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022001124/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/lifestyle/article-23888704-hail-the-kings-of-hip-hop-swing.do|archive-date=22 October 2010|df=dmy-all}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rockfeedback.com/feature/1181/an-introduction-to-a-fine-young-crop-of-new-musicians-and-poets-of-london/|title=An Introduction: To a fine young crop of new musicians and poets of London|author=Spens, Christiana|access-date=4 February 2011|publisher=Rock Feedback}} Bruce's on-stage charisma and wild dancing is often commented on by commentators and reviewers of his shows.{{cite web|url=http://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/leisure/reviews/8865977.The_Correspondents__Mr_Kyps/|title=The Correspondents, Mr Kyps|author=Blay, Tom|date=21 February 2011|publisher=Bournemouth Echo|access-date=24 February 2011}}

The Correspondents supported and played alongside artists such as Lily Allen and Basement Jaxx and played at major festivals such as WOMAD, Glastonbury and Secret Garden Party.{{cite web|url=http://www.brassneckmusic.com/the-correspondents-concorde2-on-021210|title=The Correspondents @ Concorde2|publisher=Brass Neck Music|access-date=24 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708091341/http://www.brassneckmusic.com/the-correspondents-concorde2-on-021210|archive-date=8 July 2011|url-status=dead}} Although Bruce prefers to avoid heavy promotion and allow people to gently discover his work for themselves, The Correspondents developed a sizeable cult following. They were listed by the Daily Telegraph's Lucy Jones as one of the 'Top Ten Highlights of Glastonbury' in 2010.{{cite news|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100044496/top-ten-highlights-of-glastonbury-2010/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100702060914/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/culture/lucyjones/100044496/top-ten-highlights-of-glastonbury-2010/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2010|title=Top ten highlights of Glastonbury 2010|author=Jones, Lucy|publisher=Daily Telegraph|date=29 June 2010|access-date=24 February 2011|location=London}}

The Correspondents were retired in late 2020 following the unexpected passing of Bruce's longtime bandmate and producer Tim "Chucks" Cole.{{Cite web|title=The Correspondents|url=https://www.facebook.com/TheCorrespondents/posts/10158251238566523|access-date=2020-10-20|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}} Bruce continues to produce new music under an independent name.{{Cite web|title=Mr. Bruce|url=https://www.facebook.com/mrbrucemusic/?ref=py_c|access-date=2020-12-20|website=www.facebook.com|language=en}}

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Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Eton College

Category:Alumni of the Edinburgh College of Art

Category:21st-century English painters

Category:English male painters

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:21st-century English male artists