Hugo Dalton is a London-based British artist known for site-specific works inspired by the natural world. A first-class graduate of Goldsmiths College, he began his career creating large-scale wall paintings for organisations such as the Royal Horticultural Society, Frieze London, Tiffany & Co., and the Park Hyatt Beijing. His work responds directly to architectural space, encouraging viewers to engage with their surroundings in new ways.
Dalton’s practice spans drawing, sculpture, and light installation. He has created monumental limestone panels depicting wind-blown grass and served as artist-in-residence at Rothamsted Research, with the resulting exhibition shown in the Fitzwilliam Museum’s Greek and Roman galleries. He has also designed stage environments for the Royal Opera House in partnership with the Eden Project.
His projected light works have appeared in major institutions including the Victoria & Albert Museum, Château de Versailles, the National Gallery, and Sadler’s Wells. Dalton has received a Wallpaper* Design Award and a Natural Stone Award, and is currently developing exhibitions for care homes with the Royal Collection Trust and community projects with the William Morris Gallery.
Critic Edward Lucie-Smith has described his work as “a rebellion towards elegance.”
Projects & Exhibitions
| 2025 |
50-63 Bond Street / Foster + Partners architects, London |
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Museums Next / Royal Collections Trust, Windsor, UK |
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Bradford City of Culture, Bradford |
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Royal Opera House Christmas Tree, London |
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London Original Print Fair curated by Michael Thibault, Somerset House |
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Basinghall Street / Stanhope PLC, London |
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The Eades / William Morris Gallery, Walthamstow, UK |
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| 2024 |
Earth Voice Dance, Eden Project, Choreographer Liam Francis, Royal Opera House, London |
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Assimilated Watercolours / Reading University / UKRI, Reading University, UK |
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Kesse House, London |
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Education in Action with Grayson Perry and Martin Parr, Emmanuel Center, London |
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Squire House, London |
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Featherstone Building, Derwent London, London |
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| 2023 |
Thirsk Hall Sculpture Park, Yorkshire, UK |
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Bath Festival Orchestra , National Gallery, London |
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Paris Opera Ballet , Hatch House, UK |
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| 2022 |
Assimilated Watercolours, curator Clare Carolyn, Royal Collections Trust, London |
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Conference of the Birds, Tristan Hoare Gallery, London |
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Royal Opera House, London |
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| 2021 |
Platform Earth, Freize Art Fair, London |
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Art in the Age of Now, London |
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| 2019 |
Chateau Versailles for LVMH, Paris |
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Royal Opera House, London |
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Blenheim Palace for Starlight, Oxfordshire |
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| 2018 |
Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Cambridge (Solo) |
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Royal Academy of Arts / Walmer Yard, London |
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| 2016 |
SCAD, Lacoste, France (Solo) |
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House of the Nobleman, London |
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Collisions Festival, London School of Speech and Drama, London |
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| 2015 |
Museum of Musical Instruments, Royal College of Music, London |
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Great Exhibitionists, Britten Theatre, Royal College of Music, London |
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| 2014 |
By the Light of the Moon, Slowtrack Gallery, Madrid |
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Stations of the Cross, Marylebone Parish Church, London |
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Invasive Species, Joyce Gallery, Beijing (Solo) |
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| 2013 |
Mother Nature, Bow Arts Trust, London (Solo) |
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Art13, Kensington Olympia , London |
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| 2012 |
Le Salon du Dessin Contemporain, Carrousel du Louvre, Paris |
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3 Worlds in 1, Klaipeda Culture Communication Center, Lithuania |
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| 2010 |
Livedrawings, Sadler’s Wells, London |
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Polemically Small, Charlie Smith Gallery, London |
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Royal Horticultural Society, London |
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Am Art Space, Shanghai (Solo) |
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British Art Now, Gallerie Werkstatte, Berlin |
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| 2008 |
Lightdrawings, Fine Art Society , London (Solo) |
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Hong Kong Art Fair, Hong Kong |
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White Out, The Fine Art Society , London |
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| 2007 |
Monochromed, Fine Art Society , London |
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Still Life, Saatchi Studio, London (Solo) |
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| 2004 |
Experimental Spaces, Museum of Hastings , Hastings |
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Institute of Contemporary Arts, London |
Commissions
- Native Land, London
- Schroders, London
- Falcons Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Derwent London, Savile Row, London
- Tiffany & Co., New York
- Royal Albert Hall, London
- Keswick House, Hong Kong
- Victoria and Albert Museum, London
- Swire Properties, Lantau Island
- BFAMI, Christie’s London
- Soho House Group
- Royal Horticultural Society, London
- Sadler’s Wells, London
- The Roundhouse, London
- Barneys New York, New York
- Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House
- Rothschild House, London
- Institute of Contemporary Art, London
- Liberty of London
Residencies
| 2019-25 (ongoing) |
Rothamsted Research, England |
| 2018 |
Royal Academy of Arts, London |
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Courtauld Institute of Art, London |
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| 2017 |
Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta |
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Royal Opera House, London |
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| 2016 |
SCAD Lacoste, France |
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Tresco Island, Cornwall |
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| 2015 |
Royal College of Music, London |