FREE PAINTERS AND SCULPTORS

Len Wyatt in this studio. When Len Wyatt passed away earlier this year after a long illness FPS was saddened to lose one of its most brilliantly inventive artists. Len began his training at the Hornsey College of Art when still a teenager, but then war broke out and he spent the next six years of his life in khaki, taking part in the D-Day landings in 1944. After demob he had no difficulty in deciding his future course and resumed his studies at Hornsey, graduating in the early ‘fifties. He soon linked up with the Free Painters Group in its very early days and remained and active member until poor health forced his retirement at the turn of the century. Len gave his all to FPS, not only his riveting artwork in countless group and solo exhibitions, but his huge energy and enthusiasm which helped to mould its destinies. And, in a way, his approach to his own work echoed the sacred objects of FPS – to strive for originality with excellence and, above all, to be completely free in style an...

In aid of the ARTISTS GENERAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTE with the FREE PAINTERS & SCULPTORS Well, I made it! Unfortunately My ankle protested on the 6th day and I had to have a day out to give it a rest. The weather had been pretty awful on the 5th day with wind and rain in my face. Next day my ankle was so swollen and painful that I just couldn’t continue. But with the aid of enforced rest, anti inflammatory tablets and cream I was on my way again. Luckily I had arranged to be picked up on the 5th and taken to Lianidloes. The idea being that next day I would be returned to Staylittle for the next section. Instead I had a pleasant idle time in the sun seeing the sights, shops and an exhibition in Lianidloes. So I was able to have two nights in one place and not upset all my prebooked sleeping arrangements on the journey. Once the sun shines one forgets about the bad weather. Two years ago I had done half the walk from Knighton to Machynileth and had 5 days of rain till 3 in the afternoon...

By Phillip Worth (FPS President) The Open Studios movement has been a welcome development in the art world in recent years. Typically based on specific areas, be they counties, cities, districts or whatever, it involves artists inviting members of the public to visit their studios, to meet and talk with them, and to view their output. And it is always an added attraction if they can see artists at work. The area of West Sussex centred on Chichester has a particularly lively tradition, and is rich in creative talent, as the writer discovered on a recent visit. The occasion for this was to renew acquaintance with Max Birne, a former FPS personality, who has recently moved house from Wembley, where he had lived for many years, to Selsey, near Eric Coates’s ‘Sleepy Lagoon’. After the move Max lost no time in building himself a conservatory/studio at the rear of his bungalow and it was here that he entertained visitors during ‘Open Doors 2008’, a mandatory stop on the Chichester ‘Stud...

REMINDER Send in date 1 September 2008. The topic is "Atmosphere". The exhibition will be downstairs at Lauderdale House Highgate Hill from 8-22 December. To submit work, please send a hard copy A5 or larger or disc to The FPS Committee, 14 John St London WC2 or email Jpeg images to grace.kimble@groundwork.org.uk . All entries need a £10 Cheque for entry fee made payable to ‘Free Painters & Sculptors’. A tear-off submission slip is available below. NB Work may be refused if it does not correspond to FPS standards of presentation and quality. SUBMISSION SLIP FOR DECEMBER SHOW Please cut, paste, print out and send to The FPS Committee, 14 John St London WC2 NAME ADDRESS Work 1(size framed, price before commission, medium, title) Work 2(size framed, price before commission, medium, title) Work 3(size framed, price before commission, medium, title)

SCULPTORS' SHOW 2009: DATES CONFIRMED At a recent Committee meeting, it was decided that we would go ahead with the venue of the crypt of St Pancras Church, in the Euston Rd. The dates are 7-25th July 2009. Fees for participants will be £10 per sculpture or £50 for an installation. Work must be delivered to the venue, which does involve a set of about 20 stairs down to the crypt. Participants must be prepared to sit in for two days of the exhibition. We need to ensure that there are two people invigilating each day. If you yourself cannot be there, then arrange for a deputy, this is a requirement for participation. * FPS will arrange some publicity, but we really rely on you sending out invites. This should be a prestigious show, especially as we haven’t really given sculptors much in the way of exhibition space recently. The health and security rules of galleries have tended to prevent us from showing three-dimensional work. The space is varied and large, some pieces could be out...

Pam Mara has a number of reference books which she used during her career as a illustrator. Rather than throw them away, she would like to make them available to FPS members who might find them useful. CONTACT: Pam Mara , Flat F, 5 Gloucester St, London SW1 2DB tel 02078217842

THE KRAKEN HAS INSOMNIA! in an Incredible tentacular spectacular P.R.Murry’s artwork: “The Big Squid” has re-emerged from the Dollis Hill Abyss to display itself in the Brent Artists Register Spring Show 2008 at Willesden Library Gallery (Willesden Green Library Centre, 95 High Rd, Willesden, London NW10 2SF tel:8298 1421, email info@brentartistsresource.org.uk ). The show will be open to the public from 13th May until 5th June 2008. X Private View 22nd May 6.00-8.30 pm. http://quadraoptica.blogspot.com/