{"title":"Errol Theunissen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eUniversity:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Self-Taught\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"h4\"\u003eNew Blood Art Commentary\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/errol-theunissen\/\"\u003eSpotlight 2026\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/errol-theunissen-quiet-moment\/\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSpotlight 2025: Errol Shows Solo\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/spotlight-on-errol-theunissen-a-rising-talent-featured-by-whitechapel-gallery\/\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003eSpotlight 2024: A Rising Talent - featured by Whitechapel Gallery\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eErrol Theunissen is a self-taught painter and illustrator, born in Zimbabwe and now based in Middlesbrough. After severely injuring his spine and legs in a motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe, painting became central to his recovery and to processing the grief of losing his friend Mike in the same accident. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat began as a private and necessary practice has since found increasing public recognition. Theunissen’s work has been selected for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2026, included in Whitechapel Gallery’s First Thursdays programme, and acquired through The Manchester Contemporary Art Fund for Manchester Art Gallery’s collection. Most recently, his painting Radio was displayed at Manchester Art Gallery alongside works by L. S. Lowry. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere’s a tenderness in Middlesbrough-based, self-taught artist Errol Theunissen’s work that’s hard to describe but instantly felt. The figures are curled under blankets, stretched across blue sofas, held inside a gentle, safe domestic atmosphere. Embodied painting with folk qualities, colour handling and compositional control that feel contemporary. The children and animals aren’t performing for us. They’re simply there, inside a moment of closeness, where nothing needs to be explained.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe pleasure in Errol’s works is quiet and physical. Crisps, cartoons, pizza, a paddling pool. A dog pressed against your ribs. The kind of domestic safety that builds slowly, day after day, until it becomes a world. The emotional density of being safe, where the body is supported and nothing has to be said.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e__\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/what-artists-like-2\/\"\u003eGuest Curator - What Artists Like 2\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/emerging-artists-gaining-recognition\/\"\u003eNotable Achievements 2023\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/newbloodart.com\/blog\/what-artists-like-2\/\"\u003eRead Errol's guest curation for What Artists Like #2\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"h4\"\u003eArtist Statement\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"h4\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003el mainly paint in oil. I often use situations in my environment, home, and community as my subject matter. I do not feel I need to go searching for inspiration or beauty, but I seeks it in his day-to-day surroundings, my own everyday experiences, my memories of Africa and stories I have heard or photos I have seen relating go my interesting family history. I also include animals in some of my work. The relationship between humans and animals has a special place in my practice as I am aware of the importance of animals and the benefits of our relationships with them in this complex world, we live in. It is as if I capture beautiful moments between people or people and animals and transfer these moments from his mind to canvas. I use a bright colour palette in my work which gives vibrancy and life to my paintings which often tell a story. Despite now living in the U.K. I am still closely linked to Africa through my use of colour and sometimes my subject matter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"out-of-the-woods","title":"Out Of The Woods","description":"","brand":"Errol Theunissen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58023455916364,"sku":"INV-THEE-0001","price":1250.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1054\/0135\/2524\/files\/420164d4-579e-4d22-bf3d-10280b631c5e-l.jpg?v=1783537920"},{"product_id":"the-thinkers","title":"The Thinkers","description":"","brand":"Errol Theunissen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58023455949132,"sku":"INV-THEE-0002","price":950.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1054\/0135\/2524\/files\/b881bc1f-e576-4d42-82db-e56aa3eccb22-l.jpg?v=1783537948"},{"product_id":"the-boy-in-the-mirrors","title":"The Boy in the Mirrors","description":"","brand":"Errol Theunissen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58023455981900,"sku":"INV-THEE-0003","price":800.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1054\/0135\/2524\/files\/c5b56fd9-e624-4c2c-b0a7-3ec75ac71852-l.jpg?v=1783537949"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1054\/0135\/2524\/collections\/Errol_Theunissen_6d287786-a0e0-42e9-8070-b672b573d0ee.png?v=1783447560","url":"https:\/\/www.newbloodart.com\/collections\/errol-theunissen-1.oembed","provider":"New Blood Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}