Danny O'Connor United Kingdom, b. 1981

Danny O’Connor is a British mixed media portrait and figurative painter based in Liverpool, known for large-scale, contrast-driven portraits that combine graphic precision with expressive mark-making. He is represented by Eclectic Gallery in Fitzrovia, London.

Born in Liverpool in 1981, O’Connor studied Graphic Arts at Liverpool John Moores University’s School of Art and Design, where he developed the graphic language and contrast-focused approach that defines his work today. He lives and works in Liverpool, where he has built a full-time studio practice as DOC ART over more than a decade, producing paintings, works on paper and large-scale public murals.

Danny O’Connor works primarily in acrylic and mixed media on canvas, typically at a large scale of up to around 152 by 152 centimetres. His process combines spray paint, correction fluid, ink, paint markers, graphite, texture paste, collage, gloss and emulsion, applied in layers with brushes, fingers, rollers, sticks and cardboard. These varied materials and tools allow him to drip, splash, spray and stroke paint across the surface, creating a tension between control and spontaneity.

His compositions centre on portraits and figures, mixing natural, flowing lines with hard diagonals, crisp blocks of colour with dripped and splashed passages, and digitally inspired graphic elements rendered by hand. Influences from comics, illustration, tattoo art and graffiti intersect with references to Abstract Expressionism, Cubism, Futurism, Modernism and Constructivism, giving his figurative work a recognisable, high-impact visual language.

"My work is a celebration of contrasts focusing mainly on portraits and figures with a prevalence of opposing artistic influences. Contrasts play a big role in what I do. I like to mix natural flowing lines with harsh diagonals, clean crisp areas of colour with layered messy splashes of paint. I am trying to achieve something that appears both modern and almost futuristic whilst retaining a raw traditional aesthetic."

O’Connor’s mixed media portraits have become a regular presence within Eclectic Gallery’s programme, appearing across solo and curated exhibitions in Fitzrovia and at partner venues across London, including Nobu Hotel London Portman Square, Treehouse Hotel London and Maslow’s private members’ club in Soho. Beyond the gallery programme, his paintings have been presented at international art fairs and prominent cultural and commercial venues. These include BMW World Munich, the LA Art Show, Selfridges London, Palm Beach Art & Antique Fair, Moniker Art Fair, Fresh Art Fair and the Affordable Art Fairs in New York, Battersea and Hampstead.

O’Connor’s work has also extended into publishing and screen. New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover commissioned O’Connor to create the artworks featured throughout her 2015 novel Confess, which were later brought to screen in its 2017 Awestruck web series adaptation. In 2023, British romance author I.A. Dice commissioned O’Connor to create character artwork for the six-book Hayes Brothers series, with the book credits recognising him as the artist who brought its female protagonists to life. His work has also featured on the cover of a novel by New York Times bestselling author Tarryn Fisher.

O’Connor’s bespoke commissions include work for V Starr Interiors, the design studio founded by American professional tennis player Venus Williams, as well as Hard Rock Hotel, Dirty Martini, Yum Cha and Everton Football Club. He has also collaborated with sportswear brand Ellesse.

His practice extends into large-scale public art. In August 2025, O’Connor painted a large-scale John Lennon mural on the façade of Sgt Peppers Apartments on Mathew Street, Liverpool. His work has also featured in Art on a Postcard’s 20 Best Cards portfolio, an initiative supporting the Hepatitis C Trust, alongside artists including David Shrigley, Chantal Joffe, Gavin Turk and The Connor Brothers. Selected works have appeared in Tate Ward Auctions’ Urban & Contemporary Art sales, extending his presence into the secondary market.

Danny O’Connor is represented by Eclectic Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Fitzrovia, London, showcasing established and emerging artists from around the world. Original works by Danny O’Connor are available to view and purchase through the gallery. Contact Eclectic Gallery to arrange a private viewing.