Victor Pasmore, CH, CBE (1908-1998) pioneered the development of abstract art in Britain in the 1940s and 50s. Working with Chris Prater (1924-1996), master printer at Kelpra Studio, London. Pasmore created many iconic and pioneering artists’ screenprints. He developed a language of colour and form that suggest flow and movement.
Sir Terence Ernest Manitou Frost RA (13 October 1915 – 1 September 2003) was a British abstract artist, who worked in Newlyn, Cornwall. Frost was renowned for his use of the Cornish light, colour and shape to start a new art movement in England. He became a leading exponent of abstract art and a recognised figure of the British art establishment.
Robert Tavener, a Printmaker was born in London and attended Hornsey College of Art from 1946 to 1950, following his war service in the army.
He settled in Eastbourne, teaching at Eastbourne College of Art and Design as well as St Martin’s School of Art in London. Robert Tavener is best known as a printmaker and was a senior fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (RE) and produced work for clients including Shell, the BBC and various children’s book publishers.
He exhibited for 34 years in succession at the Royal Academy Summer Show and his work is in many public collections including the Victoria & Albert Museums and Government Art Collection.
Monica Poole, Wood Engraver (1921-2003) was born in Canterbury, Kent and was introduced to wood-engraving by Geoffrey Wales at Thanet School of Art, Margate in 1938. From 1945-1948 she studied at the Central School of Art, London and encountered wood engravers Noel Rooke and John Farleigh.
She exhibited regularly with the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers and was also a member of the Society of Wood Engravers and Art Workers Guild. Her work was shown in a retrospective exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford in 1993.
John Piper (1903-1992), born in Epsom, Surrey, was an English painter, printmaker and designer of stained glass windows.
He trained at Richmond School of Art and the Royal College of Art. Amongst his well-known commissions were the collaboration with John Betjamin on the ‘Shell Guides’ to Britain and his work as an official war artist in the Second World War.
He designed the stained glass for the Baptistry window in Coventry Cathedral. John Piper lived for many years at Fawley Bottom near Henley-on-Thames where he died in 1992.
Norman Clifford Jaques (1922 – 2004) was born in Manchester and studied at the College of Art and Technology 1937- 42. He taught printmaking at Manchester Polytechnic from 1950-1982. He became Senior Lecturer there as well as Head of Art at Stretford Grammar School for Girls in the late 1960’s and early 70’s.
He was a member and served as President of both The Manchester Academy of Fine Arts and The Manchester Art Club. He was also an illustrator and book designer as well printmaker. He exhibited at the Royal Academy and the V&A. Examples of his work can be found in the V&A and galleries at Manchester, Oldham and Stockport.
Edwin La Dell ARA (1914-1970) was born in Rotherham and attended Sheffield School of Art. From 1935, he studied at the Royal College of Art under the guidance of John Nash.
He later became head of lithography at the College until his death in 1970. His place in post-war printmaking was enormously influential and his works are in the Victoria & Albert Museum, Tate and Government Art Collection.
Bernard Cheese RCA, RE (1925-2013) was married to the artist, Sheila Robinson, and their daughter, Chloe Cheese, is also a printmaker.
Bernard Cheese lived in Great Bardfield in the 1950s. He studied at the Royal College of Art, where he was influenced by Edwin La Dell, and his work often contains the same quirky humour that is also discernible in Edward Bawden’s work (source: Fry Art Gallery, Saffron Walden).
