Painter, born in Sunderland, who did a foundation course at the Art College there, 1981–2. From 1982–6 studied at Newcastle University for an honours degree in painting. In the latter year had a solo exhibition at Anne Berthoud Gallery of paintings, with another of works on paper also in 1986. Additional shows occurred at the same gallery, further showings taking place at Readheads, Newcastle upon Tyne, 1989–90, and at Newcastle Polytechnic Gallery, 1991. In the mid-1980s Atkinson had a studio in Bristol, in 1989 moving to Newcastle, where he exhibited at University of Northumbria on several occasions, including 2002 and 2003. Atkinson was a nonconformist as a student, producing visionary pictures based on stories his father had told him as a child.