Lee Madgwick

Lee Madgwick is a British contemporary painter known for atmospheric and enigmatic landscapes that explore themes of abandonment, isolation, memory, and the overlooked spaces of modern Britain. Born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, Madgwick studied Graphic Design at Norwich University College of the Arts, graduating in 2003.Working primarily in oil and acrylic on canvas, Madgwick creates what he describes as “imagined realism.” His paintings often combine recognizable rural or urban environments with abandoned buildings, unusual architectural structures, and subtle surreal elements. Dramatic skies and carefully controlled light contribute to the quiet tension and cinematic atmosphere that characterize much of his work. Rather than presenting a fixed narrative, Madgwick leaves his compositions intentionally ambiguous, encouraging viewers to imagine what may have happened—or what may be about to happen—within these deserted environments.Madgwick has exhibited extensively throughout the United Kingdom and internationally, including exhibitions and art fairs in London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Amsterdam, Rome, Milan, Stockholm, Madrid, Singapore, and New York. His work has also been selected several times for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.In 2015, Madgwick was personally invited by Banksy to exhibit work at Dismaland, the temporary art project in Weston-super-Mare featuring an international group of contemporary artists. He has received numerous awards throughout his career, including the Wyss Foundation Painting Award and the Landscape Prize at the 2024 ING Discerning Eye Exhibition.A member of the Royal Society of British Artists, Lee Madgwick continues to develop a distinctive visual language in which familiar landscapes become mysterious, melancholic, and occasionally unsettling spaces. His works are held in private collections internationally.