Patrick Heron was a British artist and critic recognised as one of the leading painters of his generation. Influenced by Cezanne and Matisse, Heron made a significant contribution to the dissemination of modernist ideas of painting through his critical writing and primarily his art. Heron's artworks are most noted for his exploration and use of colour and light. He is known for both his early figurative work and non-figurative works, which over the years looked to explore further the idea of making all areas of the painting of equal importance.
(1920 - 1999)
Patrick Heron CBE.
Patrick Heron was a painter, designer, writer and teacher, born in Leeds in 1920, son of TM Heron (the founder of Cresta Silks). As a child Heron lived for some time in Cornwall, where he eventually settled at Zennor, St Ives. He studied at Slade School of Fine Art 1937 – 9. As a conscientious objector during World War II he worked on the land, also having a short time at Leach Pottery, St Ives. In London in 1945 he resumed painting and had his first solo show at Redfern Gallery, 1947.
Heron painted frequently in Cornwall during visits, and bought his permanent home, Eagles Nest in 1955. He taught at Central School of Arts and Crafts, 1953-6. In the mid 1950s he began to paint abstract works and soon became Britain’s strongest link with the New York Abstract Expressionist. He played a key role in planning the landmark show of ‘Abstract Painting in England Today’ at the Redfern Gallery in 1957. Heron’s soft edged lozenges of vibrant colour became unmistakable and were shown in a number of solo exhibitions at Bertha Schaefer Gallery, New York.
Heron was awarded a CBE in 1977 under Harold Wilson, but rejected a knighthood under Margaret Thatcher.
Heron's early works were strongly influenced by artists including Matisse, Bonnard, Braque and Cezanne. Throughout his career, Heron worked in a variety of media, from the silk scarves he designed for his father’s company Cresta from the age of 14, to a stained-glass window for Tate St Ives, but he was foremost a painter working in oils and gouache.
Heron first saw the paintings of Paul Cézanne at an exhibition at the National Gallery in 1933, an influence which continued throughout his career. Having seen The Red Studio by Matisse (one of his other significant influences) at the Redfern Gallery in 1943, Heron completed The Piano, which he considered to be his first mature work. His first solo exhibition was held in 1947 at the Redfern Gallery, London. That same year, Heron began a series of portraits of TS Eliot, one of which was acquired by the National Portrait Gallery in 1966. In 2013 this highly abstracted portrait was the centre of an exhibition at the gallery, displayed for the first time alongside a selection of Heron’s original studies from life and memory from which it was produced.
Notable Exhibitions:
Turner Contemporary (2018)
Tate, St Ives (2018)
Tate Britain (1998)
Camden Arts Centre (1994)
Art Gallery of South Wales, Sydney (1990)
Barbican Art Galley (1985)
The Richard de Marco Gallery, Edinburgh (1976)