Damien Hirst

Winner of Tate Britain's prestigious 'Turner Prize' back in 1995 for Mother and Child Divided (A cow and calf bisected and suspended in formaldehyde), Damien Hirst is arguably the most recognised name in contemporary British art. Born in Bristol in 1965 Hirst grew up in Leeds, moved to London in the 1980's and studied at Goldsmiths College. After the pivotal 1988 Goldsmith's student art exhibition 'Freeze' which Charles Saatchi attended, the 1990's saw the rise of the 'YBA's' (Young British Artists) and their conceptual, often considered sensationalist art.

Hirst's provocative assemblage art which explored subjects around beauty, death, mortality and medicine was showcased in the leading London galleries and exhibitions throughout the 1990's.

Since then, Hirst has dominated the global art scene, his work held in many public and private collections. Since 1987 Hirst has had 90 solo shows and been involved in more than 300 group shows worldwide. Creating art in many different forms including sculpture, found objects, paintings and video, Hirst remains a successful and controversial figure on the contemporary art scene.