Private
Bernard Dunstan
(1920 - 2017)
Interior: The Byam Shaw School
Private Collection
Bernard Dunstan (1920 - 2017)
Size:
Height – 102cm
Width – 128cm
Literature: Llewellyn, Sacha, and Paul Liss. Portrait of an Artist. Liss Llewellyn, 2021, p.239.
Exhibited: New English Art Club.
Charles Mahoney is the main figure in this interior scene, centre left. Rodney Burn and Elizabeth Riches can also be identified, the latter (to whom this interior scene belonged) holding up a painting in the background.
Bernard Dunstan was a student at the school, and would later observe: ‘I first met Charles Mahoney when I was teaching at the Byam Shaw art school in the sixties. He came to join the staff at the suggestion, I think, of Peter Greenham. The Byam Shaw had been run for many years by F.E. Jackson, a great teacher of classical draughtsmanship, who inspired a remarkable degree of loyalty and respect among his students. After his death the School continued along these his lines, though without his driving force; and as soon as Charles arrived it was clear to all, students and staff alike, that he had the same sort of strength as a teacher.’
The Byam Shaw School of Art was absorbed by Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design in 2010. In addition to Dunstan, the School’s former students include Winifred Nicholson, Yinka Shonibare, and Mona Hatoum.
Painter, teacher and writer, born Andrew Harold Bernard Dunstan in Teddington, Middlesex. Known only as Bernard Dunstan he studied at Byam Shaw School of Art and Slade School of Art, 1939-41. He went on to teach at the West of England College of Art in Bristol from 1946 to 1949, Camberwell School of Arts & Crafts from 1950 to 1964, Byam Shaw School of Art from 1953 to 1974, Ravensbourne College of Art from 1959 to 1964 and City and Guilds of London Art School from 1964 to 1969. Dunstan exhibited regularly with Roland, Browse & Delbanco, London from 1952 to 1970, with Agnew’s, London, since 1972 and with Stremmel Gallery, Reno, Nevada, USA since 1981.
He also exhibits annually in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition and the New English Art Club, and his work is held in many private collections. In 1946 he was elected a member of NEAC, 1949 a member of the RWA, acting as President, 1979-83 and in 1968 elected RA. He has also published several books on painting methods and is represented in numerous public collections. These include Aberdeen Art Gallery, Arts Council England, Bristol Art Gallery, Museum of London, Herbert Art Gallery, Brighton & Hove Art Gallery, Maidstone Art Gallery, National Library of Wales, National Gallery of New Zealand, National Portrait Gallery, Plymouth Art Gallery, Rochdale Art Gallery, Royal Collection, Ruth Borchard Self-Portrait Collection, Windsor and Museum of Modern Art, Wales. His paintings are the ‘intimiste’ style of Bonnard and Vuillard and he has written about these artists with knowledge and understanding. Bernard Dunstan was married to the painter Diana Armfield.
With thanks to artbiogs.co.uk
