Darren Baker was born in 1976. After graduating from art college he exhibited in London and at the age of 23 was invited to show his paintings at a UK millennium event in New York. In the same year he was appointed official artist of The Professional Footballers Association (PFA). Darren has received commissions from many of the leading galleries, companies and personalities in the UK. His work has been exhibited widely through North America, Japan, Europe and the UK and in London it is accepted by both The Royal Academy and Mall Galleries. His paintings hang in private and public collections both in the UK and abroad. Cranston Fine Arts have published a superb range of sport art prints and canvases. In the words of Darren himself: Painting is my life force and my work is wrought from an unswerving desire to understand paint, art and the subjects I observe. My work owes much to the great exponents of still life and portraiture. Classical tradition underpins my painting and vision. Every new piece is a statement of intent: to improve and to better understand the subject. My studies and observations of the old masters inspire and inform my art, whilst also relying heavily on contemporary influences. I aim to be of my own time whilst also acknowledging the past.

Darren has produced an impressive portfolio of portraits for sports clubs and personalities from the world of football as well as many other sports. He has worked alongside and produced paintings for such star names as Lewis Hamilton, David Ginola, Peter Schmeichel, Henrik Larsson, Prince Naseem, Nigel Mansell and Jonny Wilkinson, as well as PFA Footballer of the Year portraits of John Terry, Steven Gerrard, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Teddy Sheringham. His non-sporting portraits include HRH Prince Charles and Tony Blair which hang in St James Palace and Downing Street respectively. In 2011 Darren Baker was commissioned to produce a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen to commemorate her 85th birthday an accolade accorded to a very small number of painters in the monarchs lifetime. He has also been appointed official artist to the 2012 Olympic Games in London and Darren has recently completed a £90,000 commission from the Bahrain royal family.