Keith Tyson, born 1969 in Ulverston in Cumbria, was interested in art from an early age. Having left school at the age of 15 without qualifications, he took employment at Vickers Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd., now BAE Systems in Barrow-in-Furness, building Trident nuclear submarines. He enrolled on an art foundation course at the Carlisle College of Art in 1989, and moved a year later to begin the University of Brighton’s experimental Alternative Practice degree (1990 – 1993).

A Turner Prize-winning artist, Keith Tyson works in a wide range of media, including painting, drawing and installation, and has built up a reputation both for his painting series, such as Nature Paintings (2005 – 2008), and his large-scale sculptures and installations including Large Field Array (2005). His work is an artistic exploration of some of the basic mysteries of human experience.

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of Brighton College of Art in 2009, he wrote:

“I came to study in Brighton using an unusual methodology; I took a pair of compass and drew circles on a map in order to find the furthest college from my home at which to study art. This method, although not the most flattering for the University of Brighton, paid off, because I found a truly exceptional and open educational system that has stood me in good stead throughout my art career.

“My on going relationship with the University is testament to its influence during my founding years.”

Keith Tyson, 2009