Ellis, Eric

The painting style of Eric Ellis (born 1964, Steventon, Exuma, The Bahamas) is closely associated with Junkanoo and indigenous Bahamian culture, often depicting native fruit, African masks and featuring bright colors.  Ellis says of his work, "I'm not painting to get rich.  I'm just painting because I love it.  Every Bahamian should be able to afford a work by an artist."  

Ellis was educated at A.F. Adderley and R.M. Bailey Senior High Schools in The Bahamas.  In 1981 he received a Bronze Medal in the Eleventh International Children’s Art Exhibition held in Japan and first and second place awards in successive National Arts Festival Exhibitions in The Bahamas.    

In 1983, Ellis held his first one-man show at the Jumbey Village Art Gallery that marked the beginning of a long association with this venue.  In 1984, he won the Youth Award for being the most outstanding youth in culture in that year.  From 1984, the artist participated in The Commonwealth Fair Art Exhibition, Woman '84, Man Alive and the Goombay Summer Art Exhibition.  After winning honourable mention in The Central Bank of The Bahamas Art Competition 1988, he received a scholarship to study art in 1989.  Ellis' work was selected for exhibition by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Haiti along with other Bahamian artists.  

Eric Ellis is a member of The Royal Bahamas Police Force and lives in Andros, where he continues to use all his free time to create his original and vibrant paintings.