Damian has worked extensively as a screenwriter on projects as diverse as Phantom Of The Opera and Puss In Boots. He lives on London's Southbank with his partner Ali and three dogs, Dudley, Daphne & Velvet. The story reads like a film and the Dibben has given special attention to his exploration of “colour’s hidden dimensions and how everything is constantly at play in the mind’s eye.” Immense detail is given in describing the character’s clothing and each scene is connected with a reflection of the colour in the merchant’s wife’s clothing. The Colour Storm is the story of the Italian painter Giorgio Barbarelli, who lived and worked in Venice during the Renaissance. He was a real person, as are many of the other characters in the novel, and you may already be familiar with his paintings – if not, you can easily find images online of some of the pieces attributed to him which will give you an idea of the quality of his work.

An engaging thriller and a compelling exploration of a Damian Dibben is a best-selling British author. His novels have been translated into 27 languages, in over 40 countries. His latest, THE COLOUR STORM, a love story and thriller set in the art world of the renaissance, is published by MichaelJoseph/Penguin in the UK in June 2022 and HarperCollins in the US this September. Spectacularly written, The Colour Storm by Damian Dibben, explores the impact colour had on Renaissance life and painting. The protagonist, Giorgione ‘Zorzo’ Barbarelli, one of the greatest Renaissance artists, hears about a new colour coming to Venice and he desperately wants it. He believes that this new pigment has the power to change his fate. He scores a commission with the proprietor of this fabled colour to paint his wife and plans on using this ‘foot in the door’ opportunity to secure the colour for himself. Sybille Fugger is enthralling and, swept up in his quest, Zorzo doesn’t realize he’s become the victim of love and of conspiracy. Another thing that I want to mention is how surprised I was by some of the plot twists of the story. Some of them had me reeling, they were so unexpected. But I do love being surprised by stories! Also need to shout out the character of Leda. Another surprise because I hadn't expected to end up loving her as much when I first met her in the book but she was incredible. A self-made woman in 16th century Italy with her own growing business, how could I not admire and love that. The Colour Storm is set during the Italian renaissance, a time of art and creativity but also violence and treason. The main protagonist, Giorgione Barbarelli, or Zorzo to his friends is an artist trying to make a living doing what he does best, painting. But competition is rife which means his life and livelihood is often hanging on by a thread. He even resorts to pawning his relative’s ring to make ends meet. It is 1510, the height of the Venetian Renaissance. Giorgione Barbarelli—known as Zorzo—is a young painter, fired by ambition but on the verge of bankruptcy. When a fabulously wealthy German merchant arrives in Venice amid rumours of a previously unknown pigment and a lucrative new commission, Zorzo senses the opportunity for both fame and fortune. However, as he gets to know Sybille, the merchant’s wife, he finds himself drawn into danger, intrigue, and passion.There is also a bit of a mystery surrounding a reputed color/pigment that is very rare and will allegedly bring the owning artist great fortune and game. I didn’t care about the pigment mystery except that it was a conduit for the main character’s, Barbarelli, overall story. While there was a lot going on during this era, I found that the inclusion of the threat of plague and the inquest on top of a mysterious quest for an alleged pigment and a romance was a bit too ambitious for one book. Color. It's all color," says Zorzo. "That's where it begins and ends. Venetians understand. Color is mood, love, sorrow, life. Color is what the world is built of."

Listed in the Visual Arts category on Art In Fiction, The Color Storm (2022) is a novel of Renaissance Venice by Damian Dibben. Atmospheric and suspenseful, and filled with the famous artists of the era, The Colour Storm is an intoxicating story of art and ambition, love and obsession in Renaissance Venice.

His previous novels include the critically acclaimed TOMORROW, (2018) as well as the international sensation, THE HISTORY KEEPERS series. Set in the sixteenth century when many amazing artists were achieving renown this historical based on real life figures delves into the world of Renaissance art. The descriptions of the often stark world of the artist and those who apprenticed in the artist’s studio, the intrigue both political and personal surrounding the wealthy patrons and the artists in their sphere, and of course the personal relationships and characters who peopled The Color Storm particularly Zorzo. When applicable, warnings will include information on why a warning has been updated. What do the colours mean? Read this extraordinary, award-winning tale of colour, art, life, love and dangerous obsession now.