Alumni in the News: An artist with a vision
Thu, Jan 26th, 2023
Drawing and painting played an important part in the school life of renowned artist Luke Elwes and under the steady encouragement of the then Head of Art, Tony Renouf, he remembers the art room at Worth as something of a second home and refuge to him.
Luke, who was in Gervase and left in 1979, found time to do an Art A Level course in addition to what were then regarded as more important academic subjects, something he recalls meant missing afternoon games. He said: “I was also extremely fortunate in being guided by former Head of Classics, Russell Coleburt, who encouraged my interest in philosophy and aesthetics and generously gifted me the catalogue of paintings by Matisse which I still have in my studio.”
Following university, where Luke studied History and History of Art, he went on to Camberwell School of Art, famous in the 1980s for its painting course, and then worked for a time at Christie’s auctioneers, a job which he says gave him an invaluable insight into the art world. He said: “There followed some tough years finding my way as a young artist before I was taken on by a London gallery who gave me my first solo exhibition in 1990 and since then I have been fortunate to show regularly in galleries and museums both here in the UK as well as in Paris, Italy and the USA.”
Last autumn Luke was invited to show in South Korea for the first time, alongside celebrated British artist Bridget Riley, and some of the work from that exhibition is being brought together for a joint show entitled ‘Vision and the Visionary’ at the Frestonian Gallery in London from today (26 January) to 25 February. Luke is excited to have this rare opportunity to have his work displayed alongside one of our great modern British artists and added: “Some years ago an artist friend of mine said that the secret to life as an artist was to ‘keep on working’ and simple as it sounds that is what I continue to do.”
Best wishes to Luke with the exhibition. If anyone in the Worth community would like to go along to view his work, more information can be found here.
Worth Society is the School’s thriving alumni association that enables former pupils and staff to stay in touch with one another for business and social networking purposes, providing careers advice, support and lifelong guidance.
