Hodgkin (b.1932) is widely regarded as one of the most important artists working in Britain today. The Post-war British abstract artist was born in London and studied at the Camberwell School of Art and Bath Academy of Art from 1949–54. It was not until Hodgkin was 45, and he was given his first major one-person exhibition in New York, that the genius of Hodgkin’s vivid abstract paintings was deservedly appreciated. Along with the likes of Robyn Denny, Richard Smith and Patrick Heron, Hodgkin was part of an exciting group of young British artists combining Abstract Expressionism and Pop art. Hi evocative and vibrant paintings are generally small in scale, and painted extremely slowly. Famous for his layering of the picture surface, distinctive mark making and rich, intense colour, this hand-coloured etching and aquatint is a quintessential example of Hodgkin's vibrant work from the 1990s. Howard Hodgkin's work can now be seen around the world and is held by public collections including The National Portrait Gallery London, National Galleries Scotland, National Museum of Wales, Pallant House Gallery, with an extensive collection in the Tate. Hodgkin was given a major retrospective in Tate Britain in June 2006 curated by Nicholas Serota. Previous retrospectives took place at the Museum of Modern Art, Oxford (1976), with major exhibitions in London at the Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1985 and at the Hayward Gallery in 1996. Hodgkin represented Britain at the 1984 Venice Biennial, was awarded the Turner Prize in 1985 and knighted in 1992.