William Bowyer (artist)

William Bowyer RA (born 25 May, 1926) is a contemporary British portrait and landscape painter, who works in a traditional manner.

Life and work

William Bowyer was born in Leek, Staffordshire. He studied at Burslem School of Art and the Royal College of Art, London, where his tutors included Ruskin Spear and Carel Weight. [http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/academicians/painters/william-bowyer-ra,168,AR.html "William Bowyer RA"] Royal Academy. Retrieved 22 January, 2007]

In 1963, he won the City of London Art Award. 1971–82, he was Head of Fine Art at Maidstone College of Art. In 1988, the National Portrait Gallery acquired his portraits of miners´ leader, Arthur Scargill, and cricketer, Viv Richards. The same year the MCC commissioned him to paint the bi-centenary game at Lord's.Buckman, David. "Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945", p.174. Art Dictionaries, Bristol, 2006]

Although a regular exhibitor in club and group shows, and the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition, his first London solo show was not until 1983, when a retrospective was held at Messum's gallery.

His work is "modern traditional" figurative painting. Strong influences come from predecessors such as John Constable and J.M.W. Turner. Landscapes concentrate on the River Thames and the Suffolk coast. His love of cricket also leads to subject matter. [http://www.newenglishartclub.co.uk/artists_pages/bowyer_william.asp?art=1 "William Bowyer",] New English Art Club. Retrieved 22 January, 2007]

Ken Howard RA has commented:

He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Arts (ARA) in 1973 and a Royal Academician (RA) in 1981. His memberships include the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Society of Portrait Painters. He was Honoured Secretary (President) of the New English Art Club for 30 years.

His work is in collections including the Royal Academy of Arts, the Arts Council of Great Britain, Vancouver Art Gallery, Canada, Huffman and Boyle, New Jersey, the Museum at Lord's Cricket Ground, and The Prince of Wales Collection.

He is the father of artists, Jason Bowyer and Francis Bowyer. He lives in London and Walberswick, Suffolk.

ee also

*Federation of British Artists
*Landscape art

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.bowyerfineart.co.uk/ Official web site]
* [http://www.bowyerfineart.co.uk/old_web/w-port-1.htm Official web site - gallery of images]
* [http://www.newenglishartclub.co.uk/shop/artist.asp?aID=42 William Bowyer at the NEAC, includes images of paintings]
* [http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp07979&role=art William Bowyer's work at the National Portrait Gallery]