Edward Middleditch
Encyclopedia
Edward Middleditch was an English artist
.
He was born in Chelmsford, Essex. From 1949–52 he attended Royal College of Art
, where his teachers were Ruskin Spear
, Carel Weight
and John Minton
. His fellow students included Derrick Greaves and Jack Smith
. Middleditch associated early on with the so-called 'Kitchen Sink' school of realist painters in the 1950s. He held teaching posts at Chelsea School of Art, St Martins School of Art, and Norwich School of Art (where he became head of fine art).
He was elected a member of the Royal Academy
in 1973, later as Keeper of the Royal Academy (in charge of the schools). Middleditch exhibited widely and is represented in major and regional collections in UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
and printmaker he has a unique place in British art. He drew his motifs always from the natural world: grasses, water, feathers, opening petals, reflections. Gradually shifting observed patterns became fleeting abstracted movements often caught from water currents and light effects. His later work became more highly abstracted, concerned with repeating patterns as if seen from above and filling the picture-frame; drawing influence from kilim
s and Persian carpets. Middleditch died aged 64 in Chelmsford, Essex 1987.
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
.
He was born in Chelmsford, Essex. From 1949–52 he attended Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
, where his teachers were Ruskin Spear
Ruskin Spear
Ruskin Spear, CBE, RA was an English painter.Born in Hammersmith, Spear attended the local art school before going on to the Royal College of Art in 1930...
, Carel Weight
Carel Weight
Carel Victor Morlais Weight was an English painter.Weight was born in Paddington in 1908. He studied at the Hammersmith School of Art and Goldsmiths College...
and John Minton
John Minton (artist)
Francis John Minton was an English painter, illustrator, stage designer and teacher. After studying in France, he became a teacher in London, and at the same time maintained a consistently large output of works...
. His fellow students included Derrick Greaves and Jack Smith
Jack Smith (artist)
Jack Smith was a British realist and, later, abstract artist.- Life :Jack Smith was born in 1928 in Sheffield, Yorkshire....
. Middleditch associated early on with the so-called 'Kitchen Sink' school of realist painters in the 1950s. He held teaching posts at Chelsea School of Art, St Martins School of Art, and Norwich School of Art (where he became head of fine art).
He was elected a member of the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
in 1973, later as Keeper of the Royal Academy (in charge of the schools). Middleditch exhibited widely and is represented in major and regional collections in UK, US, Canada, and Australia.
Style
As a painter, draughtsmanDraughtsman
A draughtsman or draftsman , is a person skilled in drawing, either:*drawing for artistic purposes, or*technical drawing for practical purposes such as architecture or engineering...
and printmaker he has a unique place in British art. He drew his motifs always from the natural world: grasses, water, feathers, opening petals, reflections. Gradually shifting observed patterns became fleeting abstracted movements often caught from water currents and light effects. His later work became more highly abstracted, concerned with repeating patterns as if seen from above and filling the picture-frame; drawing influence from kilim
Kilim
Kilims are flat tapestry-woven carpets or rugs produced from the Balkans to Pakistan. Kilims can be purely decorative or can function as prayer rugs. Recently-made kilims are popular floor-coverings in Western households.-Etymology:...
s and Persian carpets. Middleditch died aged 64 in Chelmsford, Essex 1987.