Chapman

1914 - Sent from family house at Gravesend to live with an aunt in Scotland where he attended a public school for boys between the ages of seven and nine as a day pupil.

1919 - Transferred to Shebbears College, Devonshire. Profound deafness and dyslexia hindered his education; neither were catered for at the school. Showed early interest in art.

1924 - Attended Gravsend School of Art

1928 - Left Art School to train as a commercial designer under Ashley Havinden, Head of Design at Crawford's. Chapman's father had used his influence on a contact at the agency to secure the position.

1930 - With the support of Jack Beddington worked two days a week for Shell-Mex and did occasional commissions for London Transport. Met Graham Sutherland, John Nash, John Piper, Barnett Freedman and John Betjamen. His contribution to an advertising campaign for the British Road Federation took him to Wales for the first time to see an exhibition they had prepared for Cardiff. Lived at 13, Canonbury Place, Islington, London.

1937 - Saved income from commercial design to pay his own way at the Slade School of Art. After one year at the Slade he was persuaded by his friend Barnett Freedman to transfer to the Royal College of Art to study painting under Professor Gilbert Spencer. Continued to work freelance for Shell-Mex and London Transport throughout the college vacations and, unofficially, for two days a week during term time. (Signed graphic work K.G.Chapman to distinguish from his work as a painter). Early paintings show the influence of Sickert and the Euston Road School, Roualt and Soutine. Painted views of Islington and its inhabitants. Married May Codlin, a designer, who had been an assistant to 'Zero' and had recently joined Shell.

1938 - Son Paul born.

1939 - His deafness exempted him from active service at the outbreak of war. Shell-Mex paid out lump-sums to its graphic artists as a retainer. Became temporary assistant headmaster at Worcester School of Art where he was given two days a week to do his own painting. Rented a cottage at Evesham.

1943 - Marriage broke up when May left with another man. George was awarded custody of his son.

1945 - Worked for 'Coleman, Prentice and Varley', a design agency funded from Coleman's mustard. The art department was run by Jack Beddington, and its directors Prentice and Varley had been at 'Crawfords' with Chapman. Also started his own small but prosperous advertising agency in London, with a friend David Caplan, which employed three people.

1947 - Married Katherine (Kate) Ablett (born 1926). Lived in Islington, London. They had first met when she was modelling for the portrait class at Norwich School of Art where she was a student. They were introduced by Jimmy Neal who had been at the Royal College with George and who was then stationed in a camp outside Norwich and attending evening classes at the school.

1950 - Moved to his sister Mary's cottage at Wimbush Green, Essex

1951 - Bought three thatched cottages outside the village of Great Bardfield, Essex. One became a studio and they lived in the end house, Vine Cottage. Soon after they moved Edward Bawden cycled out to introduce himself and invite them to tea. They subsequently met Michael and Duffy Rothenstein and became part of a community of artists that included Edward and Charlotte Bawden, John Aldridge, Bernard Cheese, Kenneth Rowntree, Michael Rothenstein and weaver and textile designer Marianne Straub. Began to contribute to the 'Open House' exhibitions at Bardfield. Made various experiments in painting in search of technique and subject matter.

1952 - First etchings made with Michael Rothenstein. First visit to West Wales when the Chapmans accompanied friends, Alex Potter, a Professor of Architecture and his wife Margaret, to buy Gors Fach, a house at Pennant near Cardigan. (Margaret was an art-school friend of May Codlin). Made many subsequent visits to Pennant exploring the countryside, painting and making etchings of the area. Sold his share in the advertising agency to his partner and began to teach. Taught graphic design for two days a week at the London College of Printing and Graphic Arts and at the Central School of Art and Design. Taught at Colchester School where he met John Nash. Continued to take commissions in graphic design.

1953 - 15 August son Robin born. Rented a cottage at Crigarn, near Pennant. Driving back via Cardiff to deliver a painting he planned a journey that would take him through the south Wales coal-mining valleys on his way to pick up the A40. At the age of 45 he visited the Rhondda Valley, a visit that 'transformed his purpose'. Bought Pier Cottage as a holiday home, right next to the sea, at Aberaeron, Dyfed.

1953 - Rented a studio in Wattstown, also stayed in his Volkswagen dormobile working in the Rhondda for sustained periods of time.

1955 - Sold Vine Cottage and moved to Crown House, an old saddler's shop, in the village of Great Bardsfield .

1956 - 29 September son Nicholas born. Exhibits Rhondda paintings in London initially without success, gradually achieved critical approval and by the early 1960s exhibitions were sell-outs.

1957 - Gold Medal for painting at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales, Llangefni.

1960 - Rhondda Suite of etchings published by St. George's Gallery Prints, London

1961 - Moved to Moat House at Hethel, a village near Norwich. Took in students from Maidstone School of Art on short courses. Huw Weldon's Monitor programme on Chapman screened twice on the BBC and at the Venice Film Biennale. First experiments with 'peripheral vision' in painting.

1962 - 17 April daughter Harriet born. The Studio magazine run an article on Chapman by Jasper Rose. Interviewed on the BBC Tonight programme after the Zwemmer exhibition.

1964 - Portrait painter Robert Buhler bought Moat House and the Chapmans moved to their former holiday residence, Pier Cottage at Aberaeron. Continued to take students from the Maidstone School of Art.

1969 - Realising that the art market was becoming increasingly interested in pop and abstract painting and no longer in his pictures, he became disillusioned and gave up painting 'to do something for the family'. Started several unsuccessful business ventures including 'Chapman Designs' designing collapsible lampshades that folded flat to send through the post.

1970 - Began part-time teaching at Wolverhampton College of Art until 1979. Continued teaching in London .

1974 - Sold Pier Cottage and moved to the Old Woollen Mill at Aberaeron. Taught evening classes in painting at Aberaeron, Lampeter, the Department of Extra Mural Studies and the College of Further Education at Aberystwyth and in summer schools at the Old Mill.

1980 - Royston Lambert, a don at King's College, Cambridge, an old friend and patron, commissioned a new painting of the Rhondda. Chapman visited the Rhondda and discovered there had been many changes that he wished to reflect in his paintings. Returned to painting and the Rhondda Valley as his subject matter.

1985 - Moved to Abermydyr, a lodge designed by John Nash for Llanaeron mansion, near Aberaeron.

1989 - A Welsh Story: A Retrospective touring exhibition organised by Aberystwyth Art Centre.

1993 - Died peacefully at his home near Aberaeron on 28th October at the age of 85.

Taken from http://www.chapmanarts.co.uk/chronology.html

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