Bruce M. Coyle was born in 1959 in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Although he has lived in southeastern Pennsylvania all his life, his work has led him up and down the eastern seaboard. He now lives in beautiful southern Chester County which has inspired much of his work. Some of Coyle’s natural talent comes from a family trait as he is a third-generation relative of William Glackens, a turn-of-the-century artist who was a member of the Ashcan Group, also known as The Immortal 8.
As a fledgling artist in his teens, Coyle entered several art competitions, claiming three first-place entries. After all three of his winning entries stolen, however, Coyle withdrew from further artistic competitions.
Coyle studied art at the Ivy School of Fine Art in Pittsburgh and at the Art Institute of Philadelphia where he combined his expertise with an understanding of art history.
His taste in art centers on the works of the old Masters, like Michelangelo, el Greco, di Vinci, and, Impressionists Cezanne and Renoir. He is also inspired by many local artists like, Rea Refer, Thomas Eakins, and the late Ray DiJohn, who also served as Coyle’s mentor and close friend.
Coyle uses an eclectic style that utilizes many different techniques and mediums to which he brings his own inventions. To choose a medium for his work, Coyle first searches his feelings for the project. Many of his chosen mediums include; oils, watercolors, pen & ink, charcoal and graphite. His canvas, however, may not be canvas. He has also used linen, Jerusalem stone, and gesso board and more. In a collaborative effort with a local metal artist in 2002, Coyle perfected his technique of painting on metals such as stainless steel and copper with watercolors, acrylics and varnish. He has also designed one-of-a-kind jewelry for Doubett Jewelers of Chadds Ford.
Coyle’s work has caught the attention of reputable local art critics. Cathy Viksjo, for example, is a regional art critic who holds both undergraduate and graduate degrees in art history from Bryn Mawr College. She wrote a feature article on Coyle that Chester County Town & Country Living Magazine published in their Summer 1999 edition. In her article, Ms. Viksjo compared Coyle to the protagonist in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s The
Sorrow of the Young Werther, asking if this talented, generous,
unconventional and idealistic character will live happily ever after or be
doomed to fail as decreed by fate.
Viskjo wrote of Coyle, “A promising Chester Country artist, Bruce Coyle, is a contemporary leading man. He has done a lot of living in his 39 years. And his path to the easel has been a circuitous one. But nonetheless,
he has found his true calling, despite a few detours along the way.”
“A milestone piece for Coyle titled ‘American Dream,’ showcases his own technique of varnish over watercolor. This unique and inspiring work by Coyle was noted by art critic R. B. Strauss to be a showstopper. Put simply, this painting deserves to be in a museum. On a technical level, the painting is stunning.”
Many of Coyle’s works have been showcased on the cover of Today & Tomorrow, a popular Lancaster County Magazine. Each one of these magazine covers was created specifically for each individual quarterly edition of this free publication.
Coyle’s art has been proudly displayed at The Brandywine River Museum and Winterthur. Coyle mastered three prints, The Brandywine River, New Castle County and Winterthur, all of which were well received locally and Brandywine River also sold internationally. 
Coyle’s involvement with the Brandywine Battlefield Association and The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission has borne 2 new prints entitled John Chad’ House and The Sycamore of the Brandywine Battle.
In an effort to support the local community, Coyle has donated a portion of the sales of many of his prints to local organizations and nonprofit charities. The remaining prints of Brandywine River were offered to raise funds for Chester County’s Children, Inc. with 50% of the sales going to
this nonprofit organization. Sales from John Chad’s House were donated toward the preservation of 300-year-old tree that is dying from a fungal disease. Prints of The Sycamore of the Brandywine Battle aided in raising funds for education programs offered by Brandywine Battlefield Association. Two of Coyle’s works, a print and an original painting, were auctioned at a black-tie affair at The Brandywine River Museum to help fund research in finding a cure for hemophilia. Coyle has also made donations of his prints to local schools and organizations for silent auction events to help raise funds for much-needed programs for our area’s youth.
At this time, offset lithographs of The Brandywine River, New Castle County and Winterthur are being offered for sale as reproductions. The John Chad’s House and The Sycamore of the Brandywine Battle are also being offered at this time as prints.
Bruce M. Coyle offers private showings of his art by
appointment and he is available for private commission. Contact Bruce