Kevin Hendley was born 1961 in Sheffield, son of a miner and came to painting after 10 years as a Master Butcher. He achieved a degree in Fine Art at St Martin’s College of Art In London. In 1993 after being spotted at his end of year show he was given the post of artist in residence at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. For several years Kevin was able to paint the day-to-day activities in the opera house: performances, shows, even following Pavarotti from rehearsal to the final operatic production. These classics were put on the front of the Royal Opera House brochures and he was given an exhibition of the work he had produced over the years.