Kevin Broughton (born 1962, Hastings) earned his Master of Arts from the Royal College of Art in 1994 and Fiona Birnie (born 1966, Stratford-upon-Avon) completed her Bachelor of Arts at Exeter College of Art in 1988 are a duo of British artists who have been collaborating since 2003. Their artistic practice encompasses photography, video, installation, and a current emphasis on painting.

Artists Statement

Broughton and Birnie began their journey into the exploration of reality through collaborative painting in 2014. The artists’ focus on altered states of perception reflects a deep engagement with contemporary issues, such as the influence of online environments, misinformation, and individual experiences that shape our understanding of the world.

The decision to choose painting as a medium highlights a desire to transcend the limitations of other forms of art, which may inherently carry an established context or reality. By embracing the fluidity and richness of paint, they create a visual narrative that captures the complexity of experience—where time is nonlinear and multiple realities coexist.

Their exploration of the artist’s life, inspired by a visit to the recreation of iconic Soho drinking club The Colony Room, adds a layer of personal narrative to their work. It suggests a blend of autobiography and myth, encouraging viewers to question the boundaries of truth and fiction in both art and life.

Overall, this collaboration not only challenges traditional perceptions of reality but also opens new avenues for dialogue about the nature of experience in an increasingly fragmented world.

Their artworks have been extensively showcased both nationally and internationally, with notable exhibitions at venues such as the Mall Galleries in London, The New Art Gallery in Walsall, Elysium Gallery in Swansea, and Mannheimer Kunstverein in Mannheim, Germany. In 2023, they curated the exhibition “Breaking the Narrative” at Thamesside Studios Gallery in London