1944 in art - Definition and Overview

Nelson Patrick Hawkes Start.............>

      Art in 1944 was rather dull until the birth on 19th July of a brilliant painter and all round drawist Nelson Patrick Hawkes or as he later became to be known nph (except by his grandson Jack Daniel Adam who called him "gd") Once nph could hold a brush there was little to stop him painting anything and everything. His cot, his highchair and his nursery all benefited from his flair and enthusiasm - not to mention his older sister Christine Bridget whenever she got in the way. One of his better know painting efforts and one that will surly be remembered by the villagers of Coney Hill was the school sports shed at St Peter's RC School, London Road, Gloucester. Originally a work in brown, nph transformed this into a multicoloured masterpieces, fortelling the rise of psycodelia in the late 60's by around 20 years. If nph is remembered for anything - this early rebellious act is certainly a pointer to his now legendary talents. Born into a rather poor and under-fed family, nph thrived on his wits ensuring he had more than his fair share of chocolate bars and fizzy drinks by cheating his younger brother Vincent. (Both ears attached even to this day.) Suffering snow-blindness in the winter of '47 he was kept indoors for nearly 3-hours. It was during this extended period of boredom that he explored drawing and scratching his name and doodles on the underside of the kitchen table while hiding from a thunderstorm. It was a hobby that would never leave him. By the age of five, he had exhibitions of his art in every room of the tiny council house in Hales Road - quite a feat for someone with snow-blindness in their formative years. Later his paintings hung in the garden shed and yet nph retained his likeable character and in-bred modesty. Not for him the trappings of a house in Longlevens or a moped with panniers and leather seat. nph kept his feet firmly on the ground and headed for Robinswood Hill, in the foothills of the headlands of the Cotswolds. There he enjoyed a simple life - so really could have stayed in Coney Hill actually. His life is better told in film and he is negotiating with the owners of the London Camera Exchange to develop a roll that he recently found in an old Box Brownie. We will all have to be patient and wait for this momentous occasion.
                                        To be continued.....