ALAN DAVIE and MAURICE COCKRILL

12th June - 19th July 2008

A unique opportunity to view an exhibition of 45 recent works direct
from the studios of two of the most influential and distinguished painters of our time.

Current Exhibitions (click here)

Forthcoming Exhibitions 2008 (click here)

Touring Museum Exhibitions (click here)

Previous Exhibitions (Click here)

Alan Davie (click here)

Maurice Cockrill (click here)

Alan Davie

For more than fifty years Alan Davie has inspired and influenced generations of British and International artists. Born in 1920 Davie initially studied painting, textile design and jewellery at Edinburgh College of Art before serving in the Royal Artillery where he continued to paint, write poetry and play jazz. In 1947/48 he travelled to Europe with his wife Bili, and while exhibiting in Venice was discovered by the collector Peggy Guggenheim who introduced him to Gimpel Fils Gallery in London and to the American Abstract expressionists Jackson Pollock and Robert Motherwell. On his return to London in 1949 he was teaching alongside Turnbull, Paolozzi and Heron at the Central school of Art. By the mid 1950’s Alan’s reputation was becoming recognised internationally, with exhibitions at MOMA New York, and a major retrospective held at the Whitechapel Gallery, London. Throughout the subsequent decades Davie exhibited widely, becoming acknowledged as one of the nations most successful 20th century artists.

Now, at the age of 88, Alan Davie continues to spend each day painting and drawing; his unfaltering artistic vision and energy continuing to motivate a new generations of young artists

Maurice Cockrill

Born in 1936 Maurice Cockrill studied at Wrexham School of Art and the University of Reading 1960 - 1964. Between 1967 – 1994 he lectured at many of the countries leading art colleges and universities, including St Martin’s, The Royal College of Art and  Central School of Art. In 1995 he was Artist in Residence at GOFA University of NSW, Australia, and was Visiting Tutor at the Royal Academy Schools from 1994 until 1998. For the last three years he has held the the post of Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools.
During the mid 1980’s he rapidly established an international reputation, with solo exhibitions being held in Germany, London and New York.  A retrospective of his work was held at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool in 1995 and at the Royal West of England Academy in 1998.
Major exhibitions of his work have been held in New York, Australia, Holland, Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. Examples of his work can be found in numerous important public collections including The British Museum, The Contemporary Arts Society, The Royal Academy, The Arts Council, and Kunstmuseum – Dusseldorf.