Art, photography & architecture
Reid, Sir Norman (1 of 13). National Life Story Collection: Artists' Lives.
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Type
sound
Duration
00:29:41
Shelf mark
C466/97
Subjects
Art
Recording date
2000-02-03, 2000-04-12, 2000-12-20, 2005-03-29, 2005-05-06
Recording locations
Interviewee's home.
Interviewees
Reid, Sir Norman, 1915-, (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Courtney, Cathy (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 1. Sir Norman Reid [NR] born Dulwich, 27 December 1915. Knew maternal grandparents; grandfather was part-French, grandmother Irish. Paternal grandfather Scottish, worked as locksmith in London; didn’t know paternal grandmother. Maternal grandfather, Druet, lived eventually in NR’s mother’s house, genial man. NR has sister fourteen years his junior. Details about maternal grandfather, worked in restaurant; wife separated from him; she had fierce temper, lived in Camberwell, where NR met his great-grandmother. NR looked after by mother at home; first in Goodrich Road, opposite home; parents “hopeful” about NR’s education, but no pressure. Attends Wilson’s School at 11; art master Peter Westwater influences NR’s early interest in painting; in sixth form did almost nothing but painting and drawing; got a scholarship to Edinburgh College of Art. Peter Westwater’s portraits; NR allowed to watch them in progress; discussion of problems of portrait painting. NR’s portrait of his mother; self-portrait. When at Tate was asked to paint the secretaries. Painted his daughter. Gainsborough’s paintings in the Dulwich picture gallery; NR first visited Dulwich gallery with sister, two years older. Linley portraits. Through influence of Westwater, NR went to Goldsmiths for life-drawing evening class aged 14-15; parents’ attitude to NR drawing nude model. Carel Weight a senior student at Goldsmiths. Staff at Goldsmiths; didn’t meet Graham Sutherland till later. Norman Mansbridge teacher at life class. Response to NR’s paintings and drawings at this time.
Metadata record:
Reid, Sir Norman (1 of 13). National Life Story Collection: Artists' Lives.
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