Ian Davenport was born in Sidcup, Kent. He studied at Northwich College of Art and Design and undertook postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Art in London. In 1991 he was short listed for the Turner Prize. The artist has said that his work is an investigation of processes exploring the different properties of paint. Pieces are often conceived and made in large numbers and achieve their most powerful effect when displayed as a group, in an installation.