Patrick Heron

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Patrick Heron (January 30, 1920 – March 20, 1999), ^[1]was an English artist, based in St. Ives, Cornwall.

Born in Leeds on the 30 January 1920, he studied part-time at the Slade School of Fine Art (1937–1939) and worked as an assistant at Bernard Leach's Pottery in St. Ives (1945). He taught at the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London (1953–1956) and worked as an art critic on the New Statesman. His early work was influenced by Henri Matisse and consisted of figurative studies, but later on he developed an abstract style using unusual colours and intricate patterns. Heron was also a textile designer and wrote a book, The Shape of Colour (1978), in which he analysed natural forms. On 24 May 2004, the Momart warehouse fire destroyed a number of Heron’s most important works.

Patrick Heron was formerly also a textile designer and writer on art. He was the son of T.M. Heron, founder of Cresta Silks and Christian socialist. Lived at St Ives 1925–30. His painting was interrupted by the war; in 1945 he settled in London and began to paint again. Deeply impressed by the Braque exhibition at the Tate Gallery 1946. First one-man exhibition in London at the Redfern Gallery 1947 and in New York at the Bertha Schaefer Gallery 1960. Art critic to the New Statesman and Nation 1947–50, and London correspondent to Arts (New York) 1955–8. Retrospective exhibition, Wakefield Art Gallery and northern tour 1952; twelve paintings in the São Paulo Bienal 1953–4. Turned to abstract art under the influence of American abstract painting 1956 and moved the same year to Zennor, Cornwall. Awarded First Prize in the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition 1959. Author of The Changing Forms of Art 1955, Ivon Hitchens 1955, Braque 1956.

Many of his works can be seen at The Tate Collection online^[2].

The early work of the British painter, writer and designer was clearly influenced by Matisse and Braque. He developed his interest abstraction in 1956, having moved to St Ives and becoming a member of the strong community of British artists there. Although the subjects of his work – stripes, more abstract soft shapes and wiggly forms – are constantly changing, the colours he uses are deliciously bright and fun.