Ian Parker was born in Wolverhampton and lived in England, Guyana and Nigeria as a child. Educated at Wimbledon School of Art, Kingston Polytechnic and the Royal Academy Schools, on graduating he undertook fellowships and residencies at Cardiff Institute of Higher Education and Newcastle Polytechnic.
He has exhibited regularly since 1977 at venues including the Hayward Gallery; Camden Arts Centre; Guildhall Art Gallery, London; Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff; Fruitmarket Gallery, Edinburgh; Arti et Amicitiae, Amsterdam; and the Towner, Eastbourne. Recent exhibitions include Wells Art Contemporary, The Discerning Eye, Trinity Buoy Wharf Drawing Prize and the Winter Group Show, Linden Hall Studio.
He held full and part-time academic posts from 1980 until retiring as Head of School, School of Fine Art, UCA and as a Senior Moderator for the UAL Awarding Body. He is a member of The London Group https://thelondongroup.com and regularly exhibits in the group’s exhibitions.