Peter Lanyon 1918-1964

Peter Lanyon was born in St. Ives, Cornwall, which remained his base. Lanyon after school had lessons in painting from Borlase Smart in 1936, in 1936-37 attending Penzance School of Art, had lessons for a time at the Euston Road School in 1938 and was encouraged by Ben Nicholson, Adrian Stokes and Naum Gabo. His first one man show was at Lefevre Gallery in 1949. Exhibited in mixed shows such as West Country Landscape Arts Council Tour 1953; Metavisual Tachiste, Abstract in Redfern Gallery 1957. Also extensive one man shows in Britain and abroad. Founder member of the Crypt Group in 1946; Penwith Society in 1949. Elected Member of the Newlyn Society in 1953 and ran St. Peter's Loft Art School, St. Ives with William Redgrave in 1955-60. Lanyon's first one man show in New York in 1957 was well received and brought him the friendship of Mark Rothko. His work is represented in many public galleries including the Tate. Retrospective at Whitworth Art Gallery in Manchester 1978 and South Bank Centre in 1992.