Martin Ware was born in London in 1946, only son of artists William Ware and Eileen Aldridge. His father worked as a war artist during World War II and many of his paintings of the London Blitz are held in the permanent collection of the Imperial War Museum. His mother exhibited her works, mostly watercolours, at the Royal Academy, with the New English Art Club and at the Women's International Art Club. Working together, the couple built up a reputation for restoring artworks, including picture frames and porcelain, and their services were used by several national museums and galleries. In 1983, a joint exhibition of their work was held at the Christopher Hull Gallery in London, celebrating over forty years of achievement.
Martin Ware studied at Camberwell College of Art, Croydon College of Art, and The Royal College of Art where he was awarded a drawing prize and a travelling award to Spain. He later worked for three months at the Atelier Lacourière in Paris. From 1972 to 1988, He taught at Medway College of Art and Hastings College of Art. He also founded and directed the Hastings Etching Workshop from 1980.
He moved to France permanently in 2007, set up a printmaking studio, and began making work again after a long break from the arts. Recent solo shows have been held at the Château de Mauvezin, Haute Garonne, France (2014); La Galerie de Léran (with Matt Hilton), Ariège, France (2013); and the Château de Trets-en-Provence, Provence, France (2011).
Ware has illustrated a number of books, including ‘Rimbaud, six poems by Arthur Rimbaud’ published by World’s End Press (1972); and ‘Goblin Market’ by Christina Rossetti published by Gollancz (1989).
