A TRAVELLING START

I was born into an artist family in the UK in the sixties. My early years were spent in London and later we moved to a farm on Long Mountain in Wales. My memories are of cold winters up on the mountain and long hot summers driving in our Volkswagen dormobile bus through Europe and Morocco. As a young adult, the call to explore new pastures remained and I started traveling. I lived in Spain, Rotterdam, France, Berlin, Helsinki and Sydney and visited many places in Asia and north Africa.

My travels brought me around our beautiful natural world and cultures, which are still inspiring me in my life today. From hiking in the Himalayas, driving through the Australian outback, the hustle and bustle of many a bazar in Egypt, India and Pakistan to the urban landscapes of metropolitan cities around the world.

STUDYING ART

In the early 90's, I decided to study fine art and became an apprentice to my father and painter Richard Akerman. My dad at the time had set up his studio in an old castle in Ayreshire, Scotland. By then, he had become a true phenomenon within the modern fine art publishing world with his acrylic and watercolour paintings. I discovered that even my sister-in-law had a print of his art on her wall when I first visited her, years later when I moved to Amsterdam.

LONDON STUDIO

Living as an artist in London after my apprenticeship, I exhibited in and around London, including at the art gallery of the world famous Selfridges in Oxford Street. I painted long days and nights in experimental painting techniques and sold much of my work in Green Park, Piccadilly and Bayswater Road Open Art Exhibitions.

HELLO NETHERLANDS

I was just thinking of travelling again when I met my Dutch partner. We settled down in Amsterdam and were blessed with our gorgeous twins. It wasn't long before I set up my studio in Amsterdam and exhibited amongst others at the Affordable Art Fair in the Westergasfabriek in Amsterdam, Walls Gallery on the Prinsengracht and at Art Laren. In 2015, we moved to Bussum, some 20 kilometres away from the capital. I opened up the new Marcus Akerman Art Studio, became a member of art association ARTES Bussum and have been exhibiting in The Netherlands and internationally. My vibrant Manhattan series was picked up by North American fashion brand Dolcezza. This collaboration resulted in an Autumn/Winter clothing and accessories collection for 2023/2024.