Sam Halpenny was born in Islington in the 1960s and is a proud North Londoner. Sam is an actor and teacher. His art training started at school, with an ‘O’ Level in Art. He started the ‘A’ Level, but after a year was encouraged to focus on the ‘proper’ subjects of Zoology, Botany and Geography, in order to study Environmental Sciences & Biology at the University of Sussex. Having gained a BSc(Hons), Sam duly turned his attention to acting, where, after training at The Poor School, he worked in theatre, TV and film. After the birth of his second child, Sam decided to broaden his opportunities for work and regular pay and went into primary school teaching. So, after a long hiatus Sam finally managed to return to Art by studying at the Working Men’s College (WMC) Camden Town. He took a number of classes in drawing and painting. Then from 2019-21 he completed a Foundation Course. This was followed by a foundation in oil painting at London Fine Art Studios in 2021. Sam then retuned to WMC from 2022-26 to nurture his understanding of printmaking, where he continues to learn and develop his craft. He has also been developing his understanding of screen printing under the tutelage of the artist and teacher Anna Dyke at the Ideas Store in Shadwell. Sam’s art is inspired by a curiosity of the people and places around him and how to represent them. His work has been influenced by modern art movements of the 20th century. As a keen photographer, much of Sam’s art has a photographic essence to it. So along with his love of collage, both of these elements have been introduced into his art. Observational and humorous images appeal to Sam’s sense of fun. Being an actor, Sam also likes to explore imagery from the worlds of the performing arts and music. Sam has had his prints shown at the WM College/Ruskin Gallery (Lowe Dickinson Prize), Southbank Printmakers, Bankside Gallery (Small But Mighty Exhibition), The Royal Academy (Summer Exhibition), Ironbridge Fine Arts (Printmaking Competition) and Chelsea Arts Society (Summer Exhibition).