I am interested in human and natural forms as starting points for further development, informed by abstract ideas and as vehicles for expressing emotion.
I enjoy experimenting with 2 dimensional materials, using a variety of drawing and painting media .
Influences include the history of art, gardening, literature, and music.
RESUME:
I am a painter who was born and grew up in South Africa, where I received my initial Art and Design education, and worked as a lecturer and freelance designer.
I came to Britain in 1965, and have lived and worked here ever since; first in London, The London Boroughs of Havering and Barking, Cheshire, Mid Wales, and now Shropshire.
SOUTH AFRICA:
1958: Senior Certificate, with Distinctions in Design and History of Art.
1962: National Art Teachers’ Diploma of University of South Africa, with Distinctions in Life Drawing, History of Art and Architecture, and Crafts.(Recognised by Dept. for Ed. in U.K as B.A.(Hons.)+P.G.C.E equiavalent).
Whilst a student I won several prizes, awards and competitions:
1957: College Medal for being an ‘exceptional first year art student’.
1962: The Municipal Medal, awarded to top student in College.
1958-1961: The Ray Joubert Scholarship, awarded on merit.
I also won two national competitions to paint murals for:
The South African Wool and Mohair Exchange’s new building.
St. Michael’s Church, Port Elizabeth.
Won ‘Best in Show’ for an exhibition design at the Port Elizabeth Agricultural Show in 1959.
Designed and painted sets for the Little Theatre, Port Elizabeth.
1960-61: Taught part time at St. George’s Boys Preparatory School, Port Elizabeth.
1961-62: Taught part time at School of Art, Port Elizabeth College.
1963-65: Full time lecturer in Art, Design and History of Art, Free State College, Bloemfontein.
Whilst working at the College, I did a lot of freelance graphic design, illustration and exhibition design,(won
‘Best in Show’ for the British Leyland stand, at the Free State Agricultural Show).
I redesigned the Coat of Arms of the Orange Free State for the South African Bureau of Heraldry.
LONDON:
1965: Came to London to study and exhibit.
1965-66: Student at St. Martin’s School of Art, London.
1967-68: Student at The Courtauld Institute of London University: Certificate in Early Medieval Art and Architecture.
1965: First U.K Exhibition: John Whibley Gallery, London. (All prior and subsequent exhibitions are listed under: ‘EXHIBITIONS’).
LONDON BOROUGHS OF HAVERING and BARKING:
1966-1970: Full time Art Teacher, Harrowfield Secondary School, Romford.
1967-1969: Part time Adult Evening Class Tutor, Ardleigh House Community Association, Hornchurch.
1969-1971: Part time Evening Class Lecturer in ‘O’ and ‘A’ Level Art, and History of Art, Havering College.
1970-1971: Head of Department, Erkenwald Comprehensive School, London Borough of Barking.
1971-1974: Full time Lecturer in Art and History of Art, Havering College.
1974-1980: Head of Art and Craft Division, Havering College.
WIRRAL:
1980-1982: Head of Art and Design, Wirral College of Art and Design and Adult Studies.(Comprising the old Laird and Wallasey Schools of Art, now part of Wirral Metropolitan College).
CHESHIRE:
1982-1992: Head of the Cheshire School of Art and Design.
I took early retirement in 1992 in order to paint full time.