Artist Guy Harvey
By Adam Monacelli | link
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Born in Lippspringe, Germany on September 16, 1955 while his father was serving as a Gunnery Officer in the British Army, Guy is a 10th generation Jamaican of English heritage as his family immigrated to Jamaica in 1664. From his early inspirations, Guy’s natural gift to recreate marine life has propelled him from Professor of Marine Biology to a Wildlife Artist and Photographer. Guy initially opted for a scientific education, earning high honors in Marine Biology at Aberdeen University in Scotland in 1977. He continued his formal training at the University of West Indies, where he obtained a Doctorate in Fisheries Management.
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In 1985, he depicted Ernest Hemingway’s famous fishing story “The Old Man & the Sea” through a series of 44 original pen and ink drawings and displayed them at an exhibition in Jamaica. Based on the positive response he received at the show, Guy began painting full time and by 1988 was providing custom artwork for use on a variety of products.
Guy began to travel the world to gain more knowledge of the habits and activities of marine wildlife. He became an avid scuba diver and skilled underwater photographer. He pioneered a technique of diving and photographing free-swimming billfish. His personal observations made during these diving expeditions have better enabled him to capture the detail in his paintings that contributes to the popularity of his work.
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As an ardent conservationist, Guy has consistently supported “catch and release” fishing ethics for game fish around the world. He works closely with many conservation organizations to help protect global fishery resources. In 1986, he was selected as Jamaica’s representative to the International Game Fish Association and in 1992 was appointed as a Trustee. Guy’s support of the Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo and its artificial reef program was highlighted by his sponsorship in 1997 of the sinking of the “Guy Harvey Reef”. In 1998, Guy was voted the IGFA’s first ever “Lifetime Achievement Award” from the World Fishing Awards Committee. In 1999, the Oceanographic Center of Nova Southeastern University and Guy Harvey collaborated to create a non-profit Marine Research Institute. The Guy Harvey Research Institute was established to provide scientific information necessary for effective conservation and restoration of fish resources and biodiversity.
Guy’s first autobiography, Portraits From The Deep, a 208 page hardbound coffee table stylebook was released in 2002. In 2004, Guy Harvey’s Portraits from the Deep, a 13 episode, made-for-television fishing series debuted on Outdoor Life Network. Plans for a fourth season of PFTD are underway. This new series will focus on Billfish from around the world and will be broadcast in 2007. In 2005, Guy co-produced and aired on PBS, a one-hour Billfish documentary titled “A Challenge for Survival”.
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Guy currently maintains his art studio in Grand Cayman, where he lives with wife Gillian and their two children, Jessica and Alex. Whenever possible, Guy takes his family on fishing and field research trips. As a result, there is a new generation of Harveys demonstrating their father’s love and respect of the ocean and all its creatures.
Guy Harvey Facts
BORN:
Guy Charles McNeil Harvey, September 16, 1955 in Lippspringe, Germany
EDUCATION:
Middle and High School matriculation in England; Aberdeen
University, Scotland, Marine Biology 1977; University of West Indies,
Jamaica, Ph.D. Fisheries Management, 1982
PERSONAL:
10th generation of Jamaica, English ancestry. Married to wife,
Gillian, January 7, 1989. Two children, daughter Jessica born in 1990 and son Alexander born in 1992.
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CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY:
1982: Professor of Zoology, University of West Indies
1985: “Old Man & the Sea” pen and ink exhibition, Kingston, Jamaica
1986: Elected International Game Fish Association representative for Jamaica; First showing at the Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show.
1988: Introduced the first Guy Harvey design printed T-shirts; began career as full time marine wildlife artist; selected by the Billfish Foundation as “Artist of the Year”
1991: Painted a 25’ x 30’ sailfish design mural on 17th Street Intercoastal Bridge, Ft. Lauderdale, FL1993: Appointed to the Board of Trustees for IGFA
1994: Began underwater video documentation of large pelagic fish
1996: National television debut; featured on Mark Sosin’s “Saltwater Journal”; Recipient of Billfish Foundation’s “Individual Achievement” Award
1997: Painted 180’ mural on the “Lady Kimberley” freighter and sponsored the sinking in conjunction with the Pompano Beach Fishing Rodeo artificial reef program; Featured on QVC in a 1 hour Father’s Day special “Theater of the Sea” video production debut at Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show; Caught and released two “Grander” (1000 lb+) blue marlins on July 27th off the island of Madeira
1998: Commissioned by Johnny Morris to create a 30’ x 60’ mural for new Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World store in Dania, FL; Recipient of the first ever “Lifetime Achievement” award voted by the World Fishing Center Awards Committee’ Artwork featured at the Hollywood-Ft. Lauderdale International Airport as part of a historical “Sportfishing in Florida” Exhibition; Selected as the first ever “Commodore” for the Fort Lauderdale’s Winterfest Boat Parade.
1999: Founded the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University, Dania, FL.2000: Moves his family and painting studio from Jamaica to Grand Cayman
2001: Collaborated with Wyland to repaint 100’ mural in Marathon, Florida.
2002: Released first ever autobiography “Portraits From the Deep”
2003: Featured artist for the IGFA’s 20th Anniversary Auction and Banquet
2004: Inaugural Season of “Guy Harvey’s PortraitsFrom the Deep” airs of the Outdoor Life Network.
2005: Guy co-produced a one-hour Billfish documentary entitled “A Challenge for Survival” which aired on PBS
2006: Completed a three-level, 40’ x 60’ floor-to-ceiling mural at the Fort Lauderdale Airport in Florida, one of his largest paintings to date; Opened the new Guy Harvey Gallery and Shoppe in the heart of Georgetown on Grand Cayman Island.