Allan GWYNN- JONES
Gwynne-Jones was born in Richmond, Surrey and educated at Miss Clare Berry's School at Folkestone (1899-1902) and Bedales (1902-1910). He spent six months in Germany from 1910-1911, and from 1911-14 studied Law under the solicitor, Joynson Hicks, but never practised, instead developing a love of art and beginning to paint watercolours.
In 1914 he began a course at the Slade School of Fine Art, but was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment three months later. He was wounded and awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) at the Battle of the Somme in 1916. Returning to the Slade after demobilisation in 1919, he won many prizes for his work, including First Prize for painting from life: a cash prize of £6.
Professor of Painting at the Royal College of Art (1923-30), he gained renown for his own painting, most notably portraits and paintings of flowers. In 1926 he was elected to the New English Art Club, remaining a member until 1940. From 1930-59 he taught at the Slade School of Fine Art. Gwynne-Jones was elected Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1955 and RA in 1965.
In 1979 he gave up painting due to failing eyesight, and was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1980, only two years before his death.
His association in Cornwall is with Zennor c1919, when he spent some months painting before attending the Slade.
media
Painter, most notably portraits and paintings of flowers
works and access
Likenesses of the Artist: Self-Portrait (c1926)
Works Include: The Red Parasol (1913); The Unshaven Man; Spring Evening: Froxfield (1924); A Fair by Night (1938); The Mantelpiece (1939); Peaches in a Basket (1948)
In1944 he was commissioned by the War Artist Advisory Committee to make portraits of the Australian Air Force
Access to works: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery; Tate, London
exhibitions
New English Art Club Winter Exhibition 1913 (he continued to exhibit a total of 64 works there until 1939)
Grosvenor Gallery, London (53) 1931
RA 1950 (first showing) then annually;
Agnew's, London 1972 (to mark his eightieth birthday)
memberships
New English Art Club 1926-40
ARA 1955
RA 1965
Trustee of the Tate Gallery 1939
misc further info
references
Benezit
Buckman (2006) Dictionary of Artists in Britain since 1945
Dictionary of National Biography (DNB);
Hardie (2009) Artists in Newlyn and West Cornwall (p328)