CLIVE GARDINER (1891 – 1960)
“A Spanish Farm”
Oil Painting on wood. 9 ¾” x 12
7/8” (247 x 327mm) Signed with
dedication
“To Isabel Beadle from Clive Gardiner
Affectionately”
Exhibited at Frost &
Reed 2/3/1953. No 2199. Bears original label IMAGE
Clive Gardiner was a designer,
illustrator, printmaker, painter and teacher.
He was born in Blackburn, Lancashire and his
father, A.G. Gardiner, was the editor of the Daily News. He was married to the artist
Lilian Lancaster. Gardiner was educated
at University College School. He toyed with journalism, then studied at the
Slade School of Fine Art from 1909 to 1912 and at the Royal Academy Schools
from 1913 to 1914. After World War I
duties at the Ministry of Munitions, he took an art teaching course, and then
taught at Brighton School of Art. Under
the influence of Puvis de Chavannes he showed for several years at the Royal Academy and the
New English Art Club. In 1918
Gardiner became a part time teacher at Bolt Court School of Art and
Goldsmiths’ College School of Art. He
began to extend his range, illustrating his father’s books, painting portraits
and completing posters. These included
notable work for London Underground, Empire Marketing Board and Shell. On the strength of that he was appointed
Headmaster and later Principal of Goldsmiths’ from 1929 to 1957, where he had
considerable influence in advancing the modern movement, his own style being
successively impressed by Cezanne, Derain, Picasso and Braque. In 1936 he had a one-man show of paintings at
French Gallery. Gardiner carried out
substantial work, including murals for Sir John Benn’s Hostel,
Stepney; Toynbee Hall; and the Students’ Union of London
University. During World War II he
advised on the design and decoration of British Restaurants. In his final years Gardiner produced small
oils and watercolours in his original more reflective vein, regularly visiting
the Scilly Isles. The Arts Council held
a memorial show in 1963 and South London Arts Council in 1967.
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