Peter Snow (artist)
Encyclopedia
Peter Frederick Briscoe Snow (1927 – 2008) was an English
painter, theatre designer and teacher. From the 1960s to the 1990s he was head of post graduate theatre design at the Slade School of Fine Art
, with the help of Nicholas Georgiadis
and later, Yolanda Sonnabend.
in Oxfordshire
, where he showed an early talent for painting and was involved in designing sets for school plays. In 1946, he studied briefly at Goldsmiths College
and worked as a journalist on the South London Press before doing his national service with the Royal Engineers
in the Middle East
. Following his time in the army he gained a scholarship to the Slade, studying until 1953 and joining the staff in 1957. He was head of theatre design, succeeding Robert Medley
.
Snow started working in theatre in 1951, when he designed Love's Labour's Lost
for the Southwark Shakespeare Festival. In 1954, Snow worked alongside Joan Littlewood
at her Theatre Workshop in Stratford
East. Two of his most admired designs for Littlewood were for a revival of John Marston's The Dutch Courtesan
. Other early theatre work included designs for Lennox Berkeley
's one-act opera A Dinner Engagement at the Aldeburgh Festival
in 1954, Frederick Ashton
's ballet Variations on a Theme by Purcell at the Royal Opera House
in 1955, and Noël Coward
's South Sea Bubble, at the Lyric Theatre in 1956. In 1955, Snow designed the British premiere of Samuel Beckett
's Waiting for Godot
, directed by Peter Hall at the Arts Theatre, where he also designed the costumes.
Snow’s first solo exhibition as a painter was at the Prospect Gallery in London in 1951, followed by a show at the Beaux Arts in 1957. Following a trip to New York
in 1970, Snow held some of his most vivid painting and two multi-media entertainments, Reflections. These were held at Oval House in south London
in 1971 and at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1975.
Snow designed a BBC
film about Rex Whistler
in 1978 and continued to exhibit regularly at the Beaux Arts and, after it closed down, the Piccadilly and Albemarle galleries. His occasional portraits included studies of Joan Littlewood and Richard Eyre
, the film and theatre directors, which hang in the National Portrait Gallery.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
painter, theatre designer and teacher. From the 1960s to the 1990s he was head of post graduate theatre design at the Slade School of Fine Art
Slade School of Fine Art
The Slade School of Fine Art is a world-renownedart school in London, United Kingdom, and a department of University College London...
, with the help of Nicholas Georgiadis
Nicholas Georgiadis
Nicholas Georgiadis CBE was a painter, stage and costume designer, renowned for his work in ballet, particularly in collaboration with Kenneth MacMillan.- Early life :...
and later, Yolanda Sonnabend.
Life and work
Peter Snow, son of Sir Frederick Snow, was educated at Bloxham SchoolBloxham School
Bloxham School is an independent co-educational day and boarding school located in the village of Bloxham, three miles from the town of Banbury in Oxfordshire, England. It was founded in 1860 by the Reverend Philip Reginald Egerton and has since become a member of the Woodard Corporation...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, where he showed an early talent for painting and was involved in designing sets for school plays. In 1946, he studied briefly at Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths College
Goldsmiths, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom which specialises in the arts, humanities and social sciences, and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It was founded in 1891 as Goldsmiths' Technical and Recreative Institute...
and worked as a journalist on the South London Press before doing his national service with the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. Following his time in the army he gained a scholarship to the Slade, studying until 1953 and joining the staff in 1957. He was head of theatre design, succeeding Robert Medley
Robert Medley
Charles Robert Owen Medley CBE, RA, , always known as Robert Medley, was an English painter who worked in both abstract and figurative styles, and a theatre designer...
.
Snow started working in theatre in 1951, when he designed Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost
Love's Labour's Lost is one of William Shakespeare's early comedies, believed to have been written in the mid-1590s, and first published in 1598.-Title:...
for the Southwark Shakespeare Festival. In 1954, Snow worked alongside Joan Littlewood
Joan Littlewood
Joan Maud Littlewood was a British theatre director, noted for her work in developing the left-wing Theatre Workshop...
at her Theatre Workshop in Stratford
Stratford
Stratford is a place name found in many English-speaking countries. It derives from the Old English words stræt and ford...
East. Two of his most admired designs for Littlewood were for a revival of John Marston's The Dutch Courtesan
The Dutch Courtesan
The Dutch Courtesan is an early Jacobean stage play written by the dramatist and satirist John Marston circa 1604. It was performed by the Children of the Queen's Revels, one of the troupes of boy actors active at the time, in the Blackfriars Theatre in London.The play was entered into the...
. Other early theatre work included designs for Lennox Berkeley
Lennox Berkeley
Sir Lennox Randal Francis Berkeley was an English composer.- Biography :He was born in Oxford, England, and educated at the Dragon School, Gresham's School and Merton College, Oxford...
's one-act opera A Dinner Engagement at the Aldeburgh Festival
Aldeburgh Festival
The Aldeburgh Festival is an English arts festival devoted mainly to classical music. It takes place each June in the Aldeburgh area of Suffolk, centred on the main concert hall at Snape Maltings...
in 1954, Frederick Ashton
Frederick Ashton
Sir Frederick William Mallandaine Ashton OM, CH, CBE was a leading international dancer and choreographer. He is most noted as the founder choreographer of The Royal Ballet in London, but also worked as a director and choreographer of opera, film and theatre revues.-Early life:Ashton was born at...
's ballet Variations on a Theme by Purcell at the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
in 1955, and Noël Coward
Noël Coward
Sir Noël Peirce Coward was an English playwright, composer, director, actor and singer, known for his wit, flamboyance, and what Time magazine called "a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise".Born in Teddington, a suburb of London, Coward attended a dance academy...
's South Sea Bubble, at the Lyric Theatre in 1956. In 1955, Snow designed the British premiere of Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett
Samuel Barclay Beckett was an Irish avant-garde novelist, playwright, theatre director, and poet. He wrote both in English and French. His work offers a bleak, tragicomic outlook on human nature, often coupled with black comedy and gallows humour.Beckett is widely regarded as among the most...
's Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot's absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play's...
, directed by Peter Hall at the Arts Theatre, where he also designed the costumes.
Snow’s first solo exhibition as a painter was at the Prospect Gallery in London in 1951, followed by a show at the Beaux Arts in 1957. Following a trip to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1970, Snow held some of his most vivid painting and two multi-media entertainments, Reflections. These were held at Oval House in south London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1971 and at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in 1975.
Snow designed a BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
film about Rex Whistler
Rex Whistler
Reginald John 'Rex' Whistler was a British artist, designer and illustrator.-Biography:Rex Whistler was born in Eltham, Kent, the son of Henry and Helen Frances Mary Whistler...
in 1978 and continued to exhibit regularly at the Beaux Arts and, after it closed down, the Piccadilly and Albemarle galleries. His occasional portraits included studies of Joan Littlewood and Richard Eyre
Richard Eyre
Sir Richard Charles Hastings Eyre CBE is an English director of film, theatre, television, and opera.-Biography:Eyre was educated at Sherborne School, an independent school for boys in the market town of Sherborne in north-west Dorset in south-west England, followed by Peterhouse at the University...
, the film and theatre directors, which hang in the National Portrait Gallery.
Family and death
In 1963 Snow married Maria Wirth, an Australian colour consultant and interior designer; she died in December 2007. Towards the end of his life he suffered from Alzheimer's disease. He died 29 August 2008 and was survived by his daughter, the painter Selina Snow.External links
- http://www.theartstable.co.uk/gallery/peter_snow.php