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The Brotherhood of Ruralists Graham Arnold ~ Artist Profile |
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Graham Charles Arnold, born in Sydenham, 24 May 1932 Moved to Beckenham, Kent, 1936 Began still life painting, 1938/9 Evacuated to Hay-on-Wye with mother and sisters, after house was bombed, 1940 Returned to London, 1942 Attended Hornsey School of Art for drawing classes on Saturday mornings Family moved back to Beckenham, following repair of house, 1944 Attended Beckenham Technical College, 1944-47 Camping trip to Lands End - paints coastline Studied at Beckenham School of Art, 1947-52 and receives David Murray Landscape Prize from Royal Academy Schools Visit to Shoreham (Samuel Palmer's village), 1948, included staying overnight in the church. Cycling tour of Norfolk and Suffolk, - draws churches and ruins Cycling tour of Wessex, 1949 - draws Stonehenge, Woodhenge, Maiden Castle Exhibited at the Royal Academy, 1950 National service, 1952-1954 (Royal Artillery and Royal Army Education Corp) - including postings in Korea, Malaya and Singapore. Returned to Beckenham School of Art, 1954-1955, working alongside John Cole and Hellmuth Weissenborn. Studied at The Royal College of Art, 1955-1958, one of his tutors was John Minton. Resident Painter at Digswell House, Hertfordshire, 1960-63 Commissioned by Henry Morris, C.B.E., Digswell Arts Trust, for a large painting "The English Countryside". Awarded the Rome (Abbey Minor) Scholarship and the RCA Travelling Scholarship, 1958; travelled in the South of France and Italy as a result. Married Ann Telfer, 29 July 1961 Taught at Ravensbourne College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools and Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Kingston Polytechnic, 1962-1973 Awarded University of London Scholarship for painting Moved to Ashington, Sussex Moved to Devizes, Wiltshire, 1974 Commissioned by The British Museum to produce a painting inspired by their Oriental Collection, 1978 Commissioned by Harvey's of Bristol to produce a painting for the Harvey's Collection, which was later used for a record cover. The painting remained in the Harvey's collection until it was sold in 2004. Starts to become ill - diagnosis uncertain, 1985 Visits Venice, 1986 Illness worsens - diagnosed as aneurysm - admitted to hospital for partial replacement of aorta, 1986 Moved to Shropshire, 1986 Falls from ladder - breaks shoulder, 1987 Starting on 30 March 1992, the Arnolds journeyed by car through Western France - Saumur, Limoges, Cahors, along the Mediterranean coast to Genoa and Florence and on to Umbria and Assisi. The return journey took them along the eastern side of France. Visited France and Italy in 1997 in order to paint. Toured France in 1998, researching the Celts (works shown in the Celtic Pilgrimage exhibition). Aneurysm recurs requiring further surgery, 1998/9 Visited France and Brittany in 1999, painting Delivers the "Hallstatt Lecture" at the Museum of Modern Art, Wales. Elected academician at the newly formed South West Academy of Fine and Applied Arts, in 2000. Produced stunning new work for the Ruralists 2000 exhibition (all paintings sold) Areas of Work Painting (mainly in oils, often incorporating collage); drawing, mainly pencil - often using a very hard pencil on painted white board; photography, assemblage - mixed media constructions. Graham Arnold on why he likes to paint: I paint because I am happier painting than any other activity. Ever since I was a small boy and painted beside my father in our tiny warm kitchen I have enjoyed the seclusion and safety of my studio. When I am anywhere other than my studio, particularly with people, I am nervous and tense. My idea of happiness is to be in my studio and to know I have no commitments for at least three weeks. I also enjoy the making of a painting from the first working drawing of my idea - the preparation of the board or canvas to the slow build up of the painting. I like to wake up in the morning knowing I am going to paint light falling on hair or to spend four days painting a beautifully graduated sky. I like paint in tubes, the brushes and above all the smell of turps and linseed oil. Finally, I paint my inner imaginative world and try to give my feelings and emotions a form. Once in every twenty paintings or so, a painting will give me a comeback and satisfaction which nothing else can match and these paintings point the way forward into still more exciting worlds.
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