Our artist this week has yet another interesting tale to tell…
Edward Stamp was born in London in 1939 and at the age of only four, was very quickly evacuated to a small farm in Dunton, Buckinghamshire to avoid the turmoil the Second World War was causing in London. This early exposure to farm life was to have a profound affect upon his later life.
The young Edward showed talent for painting and drawing he eventually went to Northampton School of Art where, in 1961, he gained a National Diploma in Design.
Initially he was employed by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office as an illustrator in London, but as is often said “You can take the boy out of the country but you cannot take the country out of the boy” and the pull of the countryside for Edward was overpowering.
He left his well-paid job in London to work the land. He got a job as a tractor driver and combined his daily workload with painting the countryside surrounding him. He managed to combine the hard work of his farming life with that of part-time artist until 1970 when he started to make waves as an artist.
By 1973 he held his first London solo exhibition and the lure of the life of an artist took over. He became a full-time artist on the back of the success of this exhibition. His work is very popular, being mostly of the British Countryside. Landscapes are and always have been his main interest, his works have been recognised the world over with his paintings having been exhibited at The Royal Academy consistently since 1975.
In 1980 he was awarded the Bronze Medal for the most outstanding watercolour by a non-member in the annual exhibition of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour. Almost inevitably he was elected to full membership of the institute by the end of the same year.
He is also known for his wood engravings, which is a lesser known art, but by 1981 he was recognised by his peers in this field too and was elected to full membership of the Royal Institute of Painter Etchers and Engravers. He produced a set of 22 engravings depicting John Clare’s Summer poems which were acquired by the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
This beautiful little picture is a typical Edward Stamp landscape in oils on board. It only measures 35 x 22cm (14in x 9in), in its frame, but it is a stunning example of his work. It is signed and dated 1975 to the bottom right and on the reverse of the painting in the artists own hand it says “January Evening, North Marston, Buckinghamshire.” And is signed and dated again.
This painting is available to view and/or purchase in my art gallery in Holme Grange Craft Village. It is listed at £250, a very reasonable price for an original work by a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Oil.
Alternatively, we now offer a leasing arrangement, so this along with all of our paintings, can be rented for a small fixed monthly rental fee.
This piece, along with many other great works, is available to view, purchase or rent at AntiqArt, the “preloved art” gallery at Holme Grange Craft Village or online at www.antiqart.co.uk or call us on 0118 327 5421 for further information.
