Category: designer desire

Designer Desire: John Cleal

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by West Wales Antiques (@westwalesantiques)

The recent image above from our friend Alistair at West Wales Antiques took us on a journey of discovery to find out more about John Cleal and his art.

South African-born John Cleal (1929-2007) worked as an illustrator and cartoonist in the newspaper industry during the 1950s and 1960s. He was, at one time, a partner in the London-based Henrion Design Associates.

In 1962, Cleal and his family settled in Fishguard eventually founding the Workshop Wales Gallery in Lower Town, Fishguard in 1970. It offered free studio, exhibition and retail space to up to 15 artists. In the 1990s, the gallery relocated to Manorowen and is currently being run by his son, Mitchell, also an artist.

In 2006, he gifted ‘Looking Up‘ (shown below) to Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest where he had earlier received care as a patient. It was one of many donations that he made to the Welsh health service.

We’ve embedded a few other examples of his work below that we’ve found online.

The magic of carving a solid block of stone or wood never ceases to amaze and excite me, I know the block contains the image but realising it is the magic and the mystery.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick (@visit_fishguard)

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Visit Fishguard & Goodwick (@visit_fishguard)

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by RHS Partner Garden (@dyffryn_fernant_garden)

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Castle Inn (@castleinnpembs)

'Looking Up' sculpture by John Cleal at Withybush Hospital‘Looking Up‘ at Withybush Hospital

'Juno' sculpture by John Cleal‘Juno‘

Portrait of John Clealcredit

Additional image credits:
Geograph | MutualArt

Designer Desire: Anita Klein

Montage of Anita Klein artworks

Anita Klein is another of those artists that we discovered whilst researching for our Auction Alert series.

She was born in Australia and attended Chelsea School of Art and Slade School of Art. She has exhibited internationally and is a prolific producer of beautiful linocuts and paintings.

I just love her style; it’s so warm and accessible. Her subject matter is always positive and uplifting; often scenes of harmonious family life, socialising with friends, swimming, climbing trees, holidaying in warm climes.

Buy originals and limited edition prints from Bircham Gallery, Cambridge Gallery, Lilford Gallery and Pyramid Gallery.

A selection of monograph books and exhibition catalogues by and about Anita Klein are available to buy – try Amazon, Waterstones and Klein’s own website.

Portrait of Anita Klein and her husband, Nigelcredit
Additional image credits:
ArtUK | Axis
All images © Anita Klein

Designer Desire: Bernard Cheese

Montage of Bernard Cheese artworks

Last week, we were introduced to the brilliant work of Bernard Cheese through an upcoming auction of 20th century art at Prior Park in Bath. Bernard Cheese (1925-2013) was a British artist, printmaker and illustrator. He studied at Beckenham School of Art followed by the Royal College of Art between 1947 & 50. It was at the latter where his teachers included Edward Bawden.

Cheese was a tutor in printmaking at St. Martin’s School of Art during the 1950s & 60s, was a lecturer at Goldsmith’s College in the 70s and the Central School of Art and Design in the 80s.

He was a fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers (previously the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers).

As part of the 1951 Festival of Britain – working with Bawden – he painted a mural on the Lambeth Lead Works Shot Tower. The tower was demolished in 1962 and the Queen Elizabeth Hall was erected on its site. In the same year, he produced the Pantomimes & Circuses poster for London Transport.

His work can be found in the permanent collections of the V&A, Tate Britain, Fry Art Gallery and Nottingham City Museums & Galleries. Apparently, The School of Art at Aberystwyth University owns 87 prints and 12 watercolours by Bernard Cheese, some of which were donated by the artist in June 2002, creating the largest public collection of his work and representing over four decades in Cheese’s career.

Prints of Cheese’s work and books that he has illustrated can be purchased from Amazon, eBay, Etsy , Hayletts Gallery and The Bookroom Art Press.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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A post shared by Chloe Cheese (@chloeacheese)

Additional image credits:
Art UK | Wotton Auction Rooms

Designer Desire: George Westren

Montage of George Westren op art prints

This week, we read a fascinating and, at the same time, sad story on the Guardian website about the virtually unknown op artist, George Westren.

Apparently, he died in 2021 and his housing association home was recently being cleared out. A mere week ago (20th June 2022), near neighbour, Alan Warburton, happened to see all his artworks being dumped in a skip by the removal company. Luckily, Alan managed to retrieve his portfolio; alas, not all of the artworks.

Alan didn’t know George all that well in life, but after rescuing some of his work, he embarked on a mission to find out more about him. Thanks to a Twitter post that went viral, George Westren has gained global recognition. Friends and family have been contacted and they have shared their information and stories.

The artworks in the portfolio have been made into prints and are now available to purchase. Prices range from £70 to £100. Proceeds will be going towards mounting an exhibition of George’s work and securing its preservation and safe storage.

Portrait of George Westrencredit

Geometric lines kept me on the straight and narrow

All other images: © George Westren