Showing 2765 results

Person/Organisation

Finn, M

  • P748
  • Person
  • fl 1985

Finlay, Ian Hamilton

  • P812
  • Person
  • 1925-2006

The art of Ian Hamilton Finlay is unusual for encompassing a variety of different media - poetry, philosophy, history, gardening and landscape design amongst others. His work assumed concrete form in cards, books, prints, inscribed stone or wood sculptures, room installations and fully realised garden environments.

Ian Hamilton Finlay was born in the Bahamas of Scottish parents in 1925. He was called up in 1944 and served in the Army for three years. Although he attended Glasgow School of Art from 1941-1942, he did not complete his Diploma and considered himself primarily to be a writer — indeed throughout his career referred to himself as a poet rather than an artist.

After the war, he lived in Perthshire, making a precarious living by writing: he published a volume of poems, The Dancers Inherit the Party, and had several scripts broadcast by the BBC. In 1966 he moved with his wife to a property at Stonypath in rural Lanarkshire, with extensive grounds which would eventually come to be known as Little Sparta. Here he began to work on the garden which became central to his life’s work.

Though his work is usually Classical in form, sometimes with surreal overtones, Finlay never claimed any skill as a craftsman employing assistants who were always fully credited and treated as collaborators. Finlay insisted upon precise execution and first-rate technical qualities in any work associated with his name, and to achieve this he chose to work with top calligraphers and carvers, though there was never any doubt that the concept and design were entirely his own.

Despite devoting his life and art to the pacifist cause, Finlay was famously prone to confrontation — with everyone from his local council in Scotland and the various British Arts Councils to the French Government. His running battles with Strathclyde Regional Council over whether he should pay commercial rates on a ruined cow byre in his grounds, converted into what the council claimed was a commercial gallery while in his eyes it was a garden temple, made news in a way that hardly any art exhibition could ever hope to.

A severe sufferer from agoraphobia, Finlay was virtually confined to Little Sparta for more than 20 years, and concentrated much of his creative energy on its garden, which is tightly organised with inscribed stones, monuments and whole buildings, many reflecting, by way of myth and legend, on the subject of war

Despite bouts of serious illness he remained enormously productive in a great variety of media. In 1981 he co-founded, with Jessie McGuffie, the Wild Hawthorn Press, as an outlet for contemporary poetry, but gradually it came to concentrate almost exclusively on his enormous output of poems and texts, photographs and prints.

He was shortlisted for the Turner Prize in 1985, and appointed CBE in 2002.

Filshill, Daniel Mason

  • S633
  • Person

Daniel Mason Filshill Junior was born on the 5th of March 1990. He attended The Glasgow School of Art as an evening student of drawing and painting from 1918-1919 while working as a typist. During the Second World War he served with the RAF and the Royal Flying Corps, and he died in 1940 in Argentina.

Sources: The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections and Ancestry.com

Ferrier, Rosemary

  • P1189
  • Person
  • fl c2000s-

Rosie graduated from the Glasgow School of Art in 2009 with a BA(hons) in visual communication. She worked for 8 years at newspaper club, helping people to print their own newspapers, before returning to university for an MSc in Software development and beginning a new career as a software engineer. She is now an experienced coder who has worked in the industry for 4+ years as a full stack developer. Rosie is passionate about writing elegant, user friendly code, and demystifying computer processes wherever possible. She is interested in the algorithmic works produced by early computer artists, and exploring ways in which simple logic can be used to transform pieces of data into compelling new forms.

Ferrie, J H

  • S235
  • Person

J H Ferrie was a student at the Glasgow School of Art c1914. He is listed in the School's World War One Roll of Honour.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Fernie, Angus

  • P793
  • Person
  • fl 2018-

Angus Fernie graduated in Fine Art from The Glasgow School of Art in 2018. In 2018 he was awarded the James Nicol McBroom Memorial Prize for Fine Art.

Ferguson, William

  • S234
  • Person

William Moncrieff Ferguson was born on the 1st October 1982 in Cambuslang, Glasgow, to Mary Ferguson and William Ferguson, a Glasgow architect. He studied architecture at The Glasgow School of Art from 1895 to 1900. He then articled with his father before joining the office of Sir John J Burnet & Son from 1904 to 1910. In 1911 he was invited by John M Lyle to work in his Toronto office in Canada. Ferguson emigrated that year and worked for Lyle and then the firm of Darling & Pearson until 1914, when he enlisted with the Canadian Oversees Expeditionary Forces. He returned to Toronto in 1919. In 1924 he and Glasgow School of Art classmate and fellow emigrant Tom Pomphrey submitted an entry in Toronto's War Memorial Cenotaph competition, winning First Premium. In 1931 he went into partnership with another GSA classmate James Govan. He practiced with Govan Ferguson & Lindsay – later Govan, Ferguson, Lindsay, Kaminker, Maw, Langley & Keenleyside – until his death in 1956. William Ferguson is listed on The Glasgow School of Art's First World War Roll of Honour.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Sources: Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada 1800-1950: http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org.

Ferguson, Robert Young

  • P858
  • Person
  • 1907-1984

Robert, known as Roy, Ferguson was born in Motherwell, where he attended Dalziel High School. He gained a Diploma in D&P from the GSA in 1932 and went on to Teacher Training College. He was a regular exhibitor at the RSA and was awarded a Silver Medal from the Paris Salon in 1952. He also exhibited in Holland and Canada. Roy was equally well known for his poetry and nature writing, contributing ornithological notes and cartoons to Scottish newspapers.

His brother Dan (GSA Diploma1934) became Head of Art at Airdrie Academy in 1955. Another relative, Janie Ferguson, also attended GSA from 1931 to 1934.

Ferguson, Margaret

  • P566
  • Person
  • fl 1946-

Margaret Ferguson (née Dunn) studied Embroidery and Weaving at The Glasgow School of Art between 1946-1950. She went on to train as a teacher at Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow.

Ferguson, James Wallace

  • S631
  • Person

James Wallace Ferguson was born on the 25th of May 1884. He attended the Glasgow School of Art from 1914-1915 as a day student of drawing and painting, and an evening student of life painting from 1915-1916. He lived in Glasgow and painted views of the city, figures and portraits, in a detailed style. He exhibited regularly at the Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Society of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts.

Sources: The Dictionary of Scottish Painters and The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections.

Ferguson, James Donald

  • S632
  • Person

James Donald Ferguson was born on 11 January 1888, the son of Glasgow and Cambuslang architect William Ferguson and his wife Mary Donald, and the younger brother of William Moncrieff Ferguson (generally known as 'Willie'). He was articled to his father from March 1910 to June 1913 and completed his apprenticeship in the office of Cullen, Lochhead & Brown from June 1913 to October 1915, subsequently moving to the office of shipbuilder William Beardmore. During this period he studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1912 to 1915 and from 1916 to 1919, first as an afternoon student of architecture and then as an evening student, while working as an architect's assistant. He took the Glasgow School of Architecture's Diploma Course from 1912 to 1918. He left Beardmore in July 1919 and from then until January 1922 he assisted in the office of Campbell & Hislop. He passed the qualifying exam in London on 15 October 1923, and was admitted ARIBA in 1924.

Sources: Dictionary of Scottish Architects and The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections

Ferguson, Hugh C S

  • P116
  • Person
  • 1936-2004

Hugh C S Ferguson was an architecture student at The Glasgow School of Art in the 1950s. He was also a member of staff at the School. He was appointed to the staff as a Lecturer (Grade II) in the Architectural Department in the 1960/61, largely concerned with the teaching of History. He was then Assistant in Architecture, 1961/2-1962/3 and Assistant in Architecture & Planning, 1963/4.

Ferguson, Danny

  • P134
  • Person
  • 1925-1993

b. Lanarkshire, 1925, d. 1993. GSA student 1941-1943, GSA staff 1947-1986 (Both full-time and as a visiting staff member).
Danny Ferguson was educated at Airdrie Academy from 1936-1942. He was an athletic youngster, playing football for (amongst others) Baillieston Juniors, Bedlay Juniors, Douglas Water Thistle and Blantyre Victoria (taking over the centre-half position from Jock Stein). Later in life he was a keen snooker player, frequently championing the Glasgow Art Club, and enjoyed Curling. He began studying at GSA in 1941 but his studies were interrupted when he was called up. He joined the Royal Air Force in 1943 and served in the Far East. He rejoined GSA in 1947 and was awarded his diploma in Drawing and Painting in 1949. That same year he won a £30 prize at the Royal Scottish Academy annual competitions. From 1949-1950 he attended the Jordanhill Teacher Training College. He later combined a position as visiting lecturer at GSA with teaching in various Glasgow Schools. He returned to GSA as a full time lecturer in 1968. In 1958 Ferguson married Margaret Dunn, also a graduate of the Glasgow School of Art, in Embroidery and Weaving. They had two children, Anne and David. Although probably best known for his caricatures, Ferguson also excelled at landscapes, still lifes and self-portraits. He exhibited regularly, had numerous one-man shows, and his work still hangs in many collections, including the Royal Collection. Danny Ferguson was elected a member of the RSW in 1969, having exhibited there from 1961. He had over 88 works exhibited at the Royal Glasgow Institute, from 1957. He was a member of the Royal Scottish Society of Painters in Watercolour. Ferguson also served as honorary secretary of the RGI for nine years and was a president of the Glasgow Art Club.

Ferguson, Daniel MacGregor

  • P865
  • Person
  • 1841-1912

Daniel MacGregor Ferguson, a descendent of Rob Roy MacGregor, was born in Stirlingshire and studied drawing and modelling at the Glasgow School of Art, under John Mossman and William Mossman II. Among prizes won, the International Gold Medal for Sculptors in 1870 was the most prestigous, but he also received the Walter Macfarlane prize for best figure modelled from life, and a prize for drawing from the cast the same year.

He initially worked as a wood carver, recorded at 122 Berkley Street in 1860, later becoming an assistant to John Mossman, working on his statues of David Livingstone (1879) and Norman Macleod (1881), both in Cathedral Square, Glasgow. He also produced bronze medallion portraits for monuments in cemeteries in Glasgow, Helensburgh and Stirling.
Ferguson later became Chief Assistant to James Young and worked on his architectural sculpture in the 1880s.

Ferguson, Anne

  • S797
  • Person

Anne Ferguson studied Printed Textiles at GSA including the P/Dip in 1977, and designed garments for the 1978 fashion show. She is also mentioned for special thanks in the programme for the show. She was awarded a scholarship for postgraduate study in session 1976-77.

Anne subsequently taught at GSA for over 20 years until 2003, setting up the knit course. As at July 2017 she works with stained glass and textiles, exhibiting and running workshops, some with fellow graduate Morag Tweedie. She also deals in glass with fellow graduate Carol Paterson, in their company ACD Glass.

Sources: GSA Annual Report 1976-77 GOV/1/10; Cromarty Arts Trust https://tinyurl.com/ya5tffj2; Craft Scotland https://tinyurl.com/ychoz5a9; Creative Escapes https://tinyurl.com/ybobklqe; The Glass Fair http://www.cambridgeglassfair.com/interviewarchive/int-carol-paterson.htm

Felton, Katey

  • P1211
  • Person
  • fl 2000 - 2021

Katey Felton graduated in Jewellery from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2000, and followed this with a Master’s degree in Jewellery and Silversmithing from the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design in 2001. She started working at Yorkshire Artspace in the Persistence Works in Sheffield in 2002, perfecting her techniques with mentoring advice from Brett Payne and other well-established silversmiths. Her signature work involved chasing, and she developed this technique to a very high standard, with each piece individually hand-formed. She was awarded the Goldsmiths’ Craftsmanship and Design Awards for three consecutive years - in 2007, 2008 and 2009 - for her high standards of excellence in the technique of chasing. She worked predominantly in Britannia silver and had many prestigious commissions from individual and corporate clients including the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire (Chatsworth House), the Sheffield Assay Office and the National Trust.

Fellows, Lillian L

  • S630
  • Person

Lillian L Fellows was born on the 27th of March, 1898. She was a textile student of the College of Domestic Sciences and an evening student of textile design, from 1915-1916.

Sources: The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections.

Feldman, Joel B

  • P334
  • Person
  • fl c1960s-

Graduating with an MFA from Indiana University in 1967, Professor Joel Feldman, School of Art and Design, University of Southern Illinois, was a guest visiting tutor in First Year Fine Art at The Glasgow School of Art in 1999.

Fawcett, Mary Isabella C

  • S1145
  • Person
  • fl c1910s

Mary Fawcett was a student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1911-1919.

Farrell, Jacqueline

  • S796
  • Person

Jacqueline (or Jackie) Farrell studied Embroidered and Woven Textile Design at GSA from 1984, graduating in 1988. She worked backstage on the 1986 fashion show, as well as modelling in the 1984 show. Jacqueline won the Coats Paton Embroidery Prize and a scholarship for postgraduate study at Glasgow, in session 1987-88.

She worked as a textile designer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming a lecturer in Textiles at Cardonald College Glasgow in 1994. Jacqueline was appointed Head of School of Fashion and Textiles at Glasgow Clyde College in 2010.

She has also published three books on crafts and embroidery with Hamlyn Books: "Needlework: Patchwork & Quilting", "Needlework: Hand & Machine Embroidery", "The Book of Waistcoats" and "The Vest Book".

Sources: GSA Annual Report 1987-88 GOV/1/12; LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com; Amazon https://tinyurl.com/ybkwmx55

Farrell, Jackie

  • P615
  • Person
  • fl c1980s-

Jacqueline (or Jackie) Farrell studied Embroidered and Woven Textile Design at GSA from 1984, graduating in 1988. She worked backstage on the 1986 fashion show, as well as modelling in the 1984 show. Jacqueline won the Coats Paton Embroidery Prize and a scholarship for postgraduate study at Glasgow, in session 1987-88.
She worked as a textile designer in the late 1980s and early 1990s, becoming a lecturer in Textiles at Cardonald College Glasgow in 1994. Jacqueline was appointed Head of School of Fashion and Textiles at Glasgow Clyde College in 2010.
She has also published three books on crafts and embroidery with Hamlyn Books: "Needlework: Patchwork & Quilting", "Needlework: Hand & Machine Embroidery", "The Book of Waistcoats" and “The Vest Book”.

Farquhar, L G

  • S233
  • Person

Ludovic Gordon Farquhar was born in Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire, on the 9th of August 1899, son of Hilda Harrington Farquhar (née Mann) and Andrew Farquhar. His mother was an artist and his uncle was the portrait painter G. Harrington Mann, who also attended The Glasgow School of Art. During the First World War, Farquhar served as a Second Lieutenant in the Gordon Highlanders battalion. After the war, Farquhar attended The Glasgow School of Art from 1919 to 1925 as a student of architecture and was awarded the Rowand Anderson travelling scholarship. He was elected ARIBA on the 30th of November 1925 and worked in London as an assistant at Sir John Burnet and immigrated to New York to work at Murray and Phillip. He also worked on the Century of Progress Exhibition at Chicago 1929-1930, for Raymond M. Hood who was the architect of the Rockefeller Center in New York. He finally worked for Henry Corse. Farquhar married Marie (née Lorne) the sister of Lorne, who he worked alongside in New York. Farquhar became a naturalized US citizen on the 29th of January 1930. Farquhar's talent was described by Francis Lorne: "His American training made him so capable to help and, too, his heart was in the idea… No drawing office ever ran so smoothly because his hand was always on the regulator, and what a sympathetic hand it was! The draughtsmen loved and respected him; the most difficult of clients automatically gravitated towards him and the builders and technical specialists all felt with justification that they had an understanding and sympathetic friend." In 1933, he is recorded to have lived in Fulham and in 1938, Holborn, Camden and was also known to have played the bagpipes. In 1937, Farquhar was taken into partnership and was admitted FRIBA in October 1939, for his successful work of the Savile Row Police Station as well as the Chamber of Shipping Offices in Bury Court in London. He also served as a Captain, in the Gordon Highlanders 2nd battalion, in the Second World War in which he was awarded the Military Cross (Theatre of Combat or Operation: Malaya and Singapore). He became a prisoner of war on the Bangkok-Moulmein Railway when Singapore was captured in February 1942. The Japanese surrendered and Farquhar was repatriated but, shortly after, he died at his home in London on the 23rd of December 1945. His death also followed the announcement of his awards in the London Gazette on the 13th of December 1945. Farquhar's burial took place at Golders Green Crematorium in London. Farquhar is commemorated on The Glasgow School of Art's First World War Roll of Honour.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Sources: Ancestry: http://www.ancestry.co.uk; Find A Grave: Findagrave.com; The Dictionary of Scottish Architects: http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=203476;

Fairley, Anna

  • S1144
  • Person

Anna Fairley was born on the 19th of May 1895 in Ocala (House?) Uddingston. She attended the Glasgow School of Art from 1917 to 1918 as an evening student of drawing and painting.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Fairbairn, Cara

  • P1154
  • Person
  • fl c2010-

GSA alumna. Went on to run jewellery classes in Carshalton and south London.

Faill, Nicky J

  • P1177
  • Person
  • fl c2015 -

Silversmithing & Jewellery at GSA graduating in 2015? Later worked as an enameller for anOrdian watchmakers.

Fahey, Amanda

  • S795
  • Person

Amanda Fahey studied Fine Art and Textile Design at GSA in the mid 1980s, and modelled in the 1985 and 86 fashion shows.

She has worked as a model and since 1992 has worked as a jazz singer and actress in Paris. She is the daughter of Brian Fahey, composer and arranger.

Sources: LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com, Largs and Millport Weekly News https://tinyurl.com/yd6rnbjs

Factor, Alec

  • S629
  • Person
  • fl c1910s-1920s

Alec or Alex Factor was born on the 23rd of November 1899. He attended the Glasgow School of Art as an evening student of drawing and painting from 1918-1919.

Sources: The Glasgow School of Art Archives and Collections.

Exner, Daisy Alice

  • S946
  • Person

Daisy Alice Exner (born on the 26th of June 1897) attended The Glasgow School of Art from 1916 to 1917. She studied Drawing & Painting.

If you have any further information, please get in touch.

Ewing, Margaret G

  • S944
  • Person

Margaret Ewing (born on the 10th of November 1896) was an evening student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1916-17 alongside her daytime work as a teacher. She studied Drawing & Painting and Modelling.

If you have any further information, please get in touch.

Ewing, Jean Drummond

  • S945
  • Person

Jean Drummond Ewing (born on the 14th of April 1903) was a student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1918 to 1920. She was a day student in Drawing & Painting.

If you have any further information please get in touch.

Ewbank, John Wilson RSA

  • P21
  • Person
  • 1779-1847

John Wilson Ewbank was a painter. He was a founding member of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1830. He painted historical pieces and marine subjects.

Ewart, David Shanks

  • P140
  • Person
  • 1901-1965

David Shanks Ewart was born on the 21st of December in 1901. He studied at The Glasgow School of Art from 1918 to 1924. He was born in Shettleston and spent a year in business before entering the School under Maurice Greiffenhagen and Francis Newbery in 1918. During his studies, he was awarded a travelling scholarship enabling him to study in France and Italy. Shortly after his return he received the Guthrie Award in 1926, and the Lauder Award 1927. In his early years painted mainly the scenery of the Cuillins, Loch Coruisk in Skye and the three sisters of Glencoe, but he soon concentrated on portraiture. He was a member of Glasgow Art Club in 1925. He visited the US between 1946 and 1964, for six months each year he painted portraits of wealthy industrialists and their wives. He was elected ARSA in 1934. He exhibited 80 portraits at the RSA. He lived in Glasgow all his life and died on the 13th of October 1965. If you have any more information please get in touch.

Evely, Keryn Jane Lenman

  • P1146
  • Person
  • fl 1975-

Keryn Evely from Auchterarder initially studied at Edinburgh University followed by teacher training and taught in primary school. At this time, an interest in jewellery making was pursued, initially through evening classes then as a full time student at Glasgow School of Art. Specialising in vitreous enamel on precious metals this became her career for the next decade then was combined with teaching for the Dyslexia Institute in Glasgow, then Perth and Dundee. A house move and lack of space meant the jewellery ceased and she tried a variety of printmaking courses at DCA and elsewhere. Now retired from teaching, an interest in Linocut and other techniques are being developed.

Esterson, J Seymour

  • S942
  • Person

J. Seymour Esterson studied at The Glasgow School of Art from 1918 to 1920. She was an evening student in Drawing and Painting. Amy Esterson, a female relative who lived at the same address on Arlington St, also studied from 1910 to 1920 at the School.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Esson, Michael

  • P216
  • Person
  • 1950-

Michael Esson was born in Scotland in 1950 and studied at Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, Edinburgh College of Art and the Royal College of Art, London. He is the Director of the International Drawing Research Institute, the College of Fine Arts, the University of New South Wales, Professor of Drawing at Lincoln University, UK, and a Visiting Professor of Drawing at the Glasgow School of Art, Scotland, the Xian Academy of Fine Art, China, Dong Hua University, Shanghai, and Lu Xun Academy, China. In 1993-94, he was the first artist in residence at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.The core of his work has been the study and interpretation of the human figure through the drawing process.

Erridge, Mabel M

  • S941
  • Person

Mabel M. Erridge (born 4th August, 1900) studied at The Glasgow School of Art from 1818-19. She was an evening student in Drawing and Painting, fitting her studies around her job as a bank clerk.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Emord, William

  • S916
  • Person

William Emord was an evening student at The Glasgow School of Art during the 1918/19 academic year, studying Drawing and Painting. He also worked as a clerk.

If you have any more information, please let us know.

Elliot, Walter M

  • S939
  • Person

Walter M. Elliot (born 4th November 1898), was an evening student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1914-15. He studied Metalwork, including gold and silversmithing, under Peter Wylie Davidson who taught at the School from 1897 to 1935. Elliot also worked as an Architect's Apprentice.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Elliot, Richard C A Kaiser

  • S940
  • Person

Richard C. A. Kaiser Elliot (born 24th August, 1901) was a day student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1918 to 1922. He studied Drawing and Painting throughout, but also took some lessons in Design and Modelling. During the 1919/20 academic year he is listed as receiving a bursary from the Glasgow Education Authority.

If you have any further information, please get in touch.

Ellio, Jeanie W

  • S938
  • Person

Jeanie W. Ellio (born 21st January, 1885) was a mature student at The Glasgow School of Art from 1915 to 1916, taking day classes in Drawing and Painting.

If you have any more information, please get in touch.

Elkington & Co

  • C172
  • Corporate body
  • Mid 19th century to early 20th century

Producer of metal ware. Founded by George Richards Elkington in Birmingham. the son of a gilt-toy maker he was born in 1801 and apprenticed to his uncles. With his cousin Henry and a number of assistants he was able in 1840 to perfect the technique of electroplating. The business traded under the name Elkington & Co. from 1861. G R Elkington died in 1865 after which his four sons continued the firm. The vast output of the firm included all types of silver and electroplate, from table silver and domestic holloware to fine display and art works. They employed many fine artists to design for them including Benjamin Schlick, Pierre-Emile Jeannest, Leonard Morel-Ladeuil, Auguste Adolphe Willms and Edward Welby Pugin, G. Halliday and Christopher Dresser.

Elizabeth & John Eaton

  • C235
  • Corporate body
  • 1858-1864

Mark registered in 1858. Run by a Mother and son. Firm was acquired by Henry Holland & Sons in 1864.

Elder, Robert Walter

  • P341
  • Person
  • 1899-1963

Robert Walter Elder was born at Cathcart in 1899 (Reg Dist 560, entry no 159), the son of David Elder, assistant city assessor, and his wife Elizabeth Sorley Buchan. He was educated at Uddingston Grammar School and took a two-year evening class course in building construction at Glasgow High School to qualify for entrance to the Glasgow School of Architecture. He undertook the diploma course from 1921 to 1926 while articled to Southorn & Orr, and won the bronze medal with a design for a shelter in a public park in 1923. A minor travelling scholarship enabled him to spend a fortnight in London. He was admitted ARIBA on 20 June 1927, his proposers being T Harold Hughes, James Lochhead and William Brown Whitie. Immediately thereafter, Elder became the junior partner of the cinema specialist Charles James McNair, whose main client was the ABC group. Elder was the principal designer, working with five assistants and an apprentice in a back room on accomplished Art Deco schemes which ensured the practice's continuing success. Elder was personally a timid chain-smoker who preferred to let McNair deal with the clients. He was remembered by an assistant, Robert Forsyth, as 'a very shy man who didn't want to take the credit'. He never married and in later years suffered from Parkinson's disease. He died of pneumonia at Belvidere Hospital on 15 February 1963.

Elder, Clarence

  • S918
  • Person

Clarence Elder (b. 2nd October 1892, Glasgow) studied at The Glasgow School of Art from 1908 to 1914, then from 1915 to 1916, and finally in 1918/1919. For the large part he was an evening student in Drawing and Painting (including Life Drawing), alongside working professionally as a process artist. He studied under Andrew Watson and William Somerville Shanks, and was granted the Haldane Evening School Bursary (which required the student to attend the School at least four evenings a week). In the early 1920s Elder exhibited a number of oil paintings at The Royal Scottish Academy and The Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts.

Elder became better known for his work in the film industry. In the late 1920s he was appointed Supervising Art Director at British International Pictures (BIP, later renamed Associated British Picture Corporation), and also worked as a 'camouflage supervisor' during World War Two.

Elder gained a somewhat notorious reputation among colleagues at BIP. Art Director Cedric Dawe recalls (https://historyproject.org.uk/sites/default/files/HP0229%20Cedric%20Dawe%20-%20Transcript.pdf - PDF) that Elder 'was looked upon as a big bully…a very hard headed Scot' and describes the working environment at BIP as 'absolute chaos', while others have noted his habit of 'donning an artist's cap and smock when greeting design underlings'.

In 1947 Elder wrote and directed his own film, The Silver Darlings, based on the novel by Neil M. Gunn. Set in a struggling fishing village in the North East of Scotland during the 1800s, the film follows the story of a widow whose lover and son are threatened with conscription into the Royal Navy. With the exception of a short documentary called The Little Singer (1956), this was Elder's only stint as director, and the film – a 'two year labour of love' has gained mixed reviews.

Sources:

Sources, Methods, Approaches, edited by J. Chapman, M. Glancy, S. Harper

Results 1951 to 2000 of 2765