Alan Ellison and Ronnie Wood have an unusual connection. Both are in their sixties and both are artists. Alan lives in Wales and has featured in a previous post (The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore). Ronnie is making his first appearance in these pages. While you are mulling over their connection I will show you one of Alan’s pictures, probably painted in America, judging by the coach in the background.
The link lies in Children’s TV on the BBC in the 1950s/60s. They both won prizes for their paintings. Alan Ellison got his from Animal Magic and Ronnie Wood from Sketch Club. I found this out years ago from Alan and from Ronnie himself this week when he was presenting prizes at the Royal College of Art. His success on Sketch Club led him to Ealing Art College. As well as continuing to paint he collects pictures and has a particular passion for work by William Orpen. He also plays the guitar in a pop group.
William Orpen’s fine work is a little neglected these days so I am glad it is receiving attention again, albeit from an unlikely quarter. This picture, The Angler, painted in 1912, is of Mrs J M Hone and belongs to the Tate. I believe that an exhibition of his work, perhaps placing his pictures alongside some of his more famous contemporaries, would be well-received today. The last time there was an Orpen exhibition was at The Imperial War Museum ten years ago: he was an official war artist in the First World War.
