Shaun Duke is a figurative artist based in Sheffield. Every encounter with a sitter is a unique collaboration. It is a sharing of ideas; stories of comfort and discomfort, of confidence and shyness. Through careful observation and decisive mark-making, Duke depicts the psychological essence of his sitters, recording shared moments of intimate personality and celebrating the individual above all else. The transient nature of the sittings is of great importance. To provide an honest account, marks are rarely erased and his works on paper are never altered after a session has ended. Duke wants to record instances in time between people and believes that only through documenting these small moments can we reveal a truthful view of contemporary culture.

All of the works in 'Coalescence' are self-portraits and offer a glimpse into the mind of Duke as both a painter and a sitter.