Bran Sivas (b.1973) is a contemporary British artist working predominantly in oil and charcoal. His practice spans still life, portraiture and the human figure, united by an interest in structure, observational clarity, and the expressive potential of mark-making. Drawing forms the backbone of his approach, offering a framework from which his more painterly, intuitive elements can emerge.
Bran has developed a distinctive way of balancing realism with suggestion, allowing each painting to evolve gradually through considered marks, layered surface, and carefully controlled shifts in tone and colour. He moves between direct, immediate application and slower, more methodical building of form, often allowing traces of the process to remain visible as part of the finished work.
He has exhibited widely across the UK, including major national group shows and exhibitions dedicated to contemporary representational painting. His work has also been featured in editorial contexts, appeared on screen in film, and been included in televised arts programming. In recent years, he has been shortlisted and selected for multiple national exhibitions recognising excellence in portraiture and oil painting.
Bran continues to develop a body of work that reflects both traditional craft and a contemporary sensibility, exploring the quiet emotional resonance found in objects, figures, and the spaces between them.