William Gear 1915 - 1997

William Gear was born in Methil, Fife. Studied painting at the Edinburgh College of Art in 1932-37 and the Edinburgh University Fine Art Class in 1936-37, his teachers including William Gillies and John Maxwell, then in 1937 in Paris with Fernand Leger. In 1951 won a Festival of Britain Purchase Prize. Through his association with the COBRA group in the post war years, he made a significant contribution to European painting. Retrospective exhibition at Redfern Gallery in 1997. Tate Gallery and many provincial and overseas galleries hold his work. (see Art UK)