Damien Hirst with Maia Norman in 2008 

Partner Maia Norman walks out after 20 year relationship it was announced today that Damien Hirst and his Californian-born, long term partner the Fashion designer Maia Norman have split up, after 20 years together. The mother of his three children has been reported to be dating Lt-Colonel Tim Spicer a former British ­mercenary commander. In 2002, he set up Aegis, a murky company, which has been involved in intelligence, security and reconstruction work in Iraq.

Damien Hirst was born in Bristol in 1965. He studied Fine Art at Goldsmiths, University of London from 1986 to 1989 and is considered by many to be the leading figure of the group known as "Young British Artists". The YBAs are characterised by their entrepreneurial spirit, independence and their ability to manipulate the media.Hirst dominated the art scene in Britain during the 1990s. His early career was closely linked with the collector Charles Saatchi, however over the last few years Hirst has distanced himself from this association. Hirst's work explores the uncertainty at the core of human experience; love, life, death, loyalty and betrayal. His work has been exhibited widely,in Britain, the USA, Australia, and Europe. Work is included in many public and private collections. Despite only achieving a Grade E in his art A-level, he went on to win the 1995 Turner Prize. In the late 1980s, Maia Norman dated Hirst's art dealer, Jay Jopling and it was while she was working for him they met and started a relationship.

Tate Modern recently opened the first substantial survey of his work in April to run as part of the Cultural Olympiad. It is on show until 9 September 2012. This is hardly a retrospective, given Hirst's age. It covers in-depth two decades of the artist's output. The exhibition highlights works including many of his most iconic pieces such as, The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living 1991 (the shark), Mother and Child Divided (split cow and calf) and his Spot and Spin paintings. The exhibition is sponsored by the Qatar Museums Authority. This seems to be Hirst's year on many levels. We wish him well in balancing his personal life with the professional.