British Modern Art - Artist Norman Checketts

British artist of the 20th century NORMAN FREDRICK CHECKETTS WAS BORN IN 1925 in Merthyr Tydfil, a small town in the valleys of South Wales. The region is known for the rich seams of coal and iron, now exhausted, which gave it a leading role in Britain's Industrial --Revolution.

His father was an engine driver on the Great Western Railway steam trains. When Norman was 11 years old he surprised his family by gaining a place at Cwartha Castle Grammar School. His performance there was very poor. He wasted his time in the academic subjects. Staff complained of his misbehaviour and inattention in all subjects except English Literature.

He read widely from an early age. At that time there were no Art lessons as such. The period allotted was taken by the Curator of the Museum. The boys were encouraged to roam through the main gallery where they could be supervised, sketching whatever caught their eye and imagination.

The exhibits were mainly archaeological and geological. Norman's efforts were singled out for praise. No paints came his way.


At the age of 14, on the advice of his Head Master, who complained of Norman's failure to make progress in any subject, his father sent him to Didcot, the GWR Depot situated a few miles south of Oxford. He was apprenticed to become a fire-dropper and fireman. The work, handling burning cinders and shovelling coal, was dangerous and hard for a young lad. During these years he lived in the Railway Workers' Hostal.

In his free time Norman explored Oxford with its art galleries and the Ashmolean Museum. By chance he came across the Oxford School of Art and was accepted as a part-time student. At work it was easy to exchange shifts, provided he was willing to work nights. He remained at Didcot through the Second World War. His efforts to join the armed fore4were always frustrated, on the grounds of either poor health and physique or the fact that transport was a reserved occupation.

During these years he built up a portfolio of work which later gained him a place at the Camberwell School of Art and a County Exhibition.. He also took postal courses in several GCE subjects, passing in English Language and Literature, Geometry and Welsh.

While at Camberwell his courses included sculpture, pottery and graphic art, as well as painting. He could have specialised in any one of these but chose painting. In 1952 he was awarded the National Diploma in Design with Painting as his special subject.. His teachers included the German expressionist painter, Martin Bloch, and Victor Pasmore.Wiki

When he left Camberwell he was offered a place at the Slade School of Art. Personal circumstances made it impossible for him to accept. In the following years he continued to paint while earning a living teaching art in London. His work was exhibited in various Group Exhibitions in Wales and London and exhibited at the Woodstock Gallery off Bond Street in London. Although he sold paintings from time to time, his work did not attract great public attention. No press cuttings survive.

In 1987, following the death of his only son, he and his wife decided to move to Spain. He had long been drawn to the Mediterranean region Which he visited annually. Every aspect of the life there attracted him, above all the quality of light. He settled in Las Fuentes, Al cossebre in Northern Castellon and. remained there until his death in 2007…

He painted daily, usually about 1.00pm to 6.00pm and often returned to his studio in the evening. The morning were devoted to cycling in the surrounding countryside and mountains or swimming at one or other of the many local beaches. He always carried materials for sketching. He made no attempt to sell his paintings, was more inclined to give them away. Some were sold, mainly portraits of local people he painted.

Norman admired Cezanne above other painters. Cezanne wrote: "Art may really be a priesthood that demands men of purity who will belong to it utterly."

 

There was something of this spirit in Norman's attitude to his work. He was always striving, rarely satisfied with the results of his efforts. In Spain he failed to sign any of his works. His wife, who was with him throughout, can authenticate his paintings, about fifty of which remain with her.