Derek Nice

Versatile artist, designer and teacher constructing colourful boats from wood and found objects, in which factors such as wood weathering by sea and wind were important. Nice (pronounced niece) was born in west London but after World War II moved near the Thames estuary coast. He attended Southend Technical College and Art School, 1946–9, learning woodwork from Norman Saunders; spent a year farming during which he decided on an art career, attending part-time Workers’ Educational Association classes; did two years of National Service, also studying at Cambridge Technical College and Art School; then returned to Southend to the Art School, 1953–6, to complete a National Diploma in Design in painting and ceramics, notable teachers Tony Oldfield and Llewellyn Banks.

After a year at London University Institute of Education, 1956–7, qualifying to teach, Nice taught art in Essex for two years; was for a year with the Royal Naval School in Malta; did a postgraduate course, 1960–1, in the theatre design department of the Central School; then joined the BBC as a designer/art director, 1961–3; and was a part-time visiting lecturer at Hornsey and Brighton Schools of Art, 1963–6. He taught visual arts at Bretton Hall, Yorkshire, 1974–5. Was artist-in-residence, King’s School, Worcester, 1999. Nice was involved in projects for Gozo Heritage, Malta; Lismore Experience, Waterford, Ireland; and Vikinglandet, Oslo, Norway. Mixed shows included the RA Summer Exhibition; RWA; and Sea Dreams, Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, and tour, 1998–9. Solo exhibitions included Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn, 1997, Lennox Gallery, 1999 and 2000, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital Arts, 2001, Piers Feetham Gallery, 2002, and King’s Lynn Arts Centre, 2006. Nice worked in a barn at Hassage, Bath, Somerset.

Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)