John Shelton (1923-1993) - 1975 Graphite Drawing The Nude and the Minotaur

Description

A dynamic life drawing study depicting a nude model in a busy interior. She stares at the minotaur statue placed directly in front of her on a table. Signed and dated to the lower right. Presented in a gilt frame with a beaded running pattern. On paper.

Condition

In fine condition.

Size

46 x 35cm (18.1" x 13.8")
Framed Size: 65 x 54cm (25.6" x 21.3")

Artist Biography

Born John Hancock, in Stoke-on-Trent, his art training began at Burslem School of Art from 1937-40, followed by a further four years at Stoke School of Art before winning a Scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art in 1944. Whilst studying at the Slade, Shelton became very friendly with Robert MacBryde who was to influence him in his future art career. He spent many hours in the company of his great friend and also John Minton and Robert Colquhoun, receiving private lessons from them all whilst studying in the capital. During this time, he showed his work with the London Group, before eventually returning to the Potteries where during the late 1940's and early 1950's he became a modeller and designer at Staffordshire china, working alongside Clarice Cliffe. It was in 1957 that he first began teaching at Newcastle-under-Lyme Art School, a position he held until his retirement in 1983.

Throughout the 1950's and early 60's he showed his work regularly - both paintings and pottery in Edinburgh, Hadleigh, Suffolk and local galleries in the Potteries. He had a solo show during the late 1960's at Keele University and his work was also exhibited at St. Johns University, Newfoundland, Canada. He also exhibited at the Bradford Print Biennale and at Middlesbrough Art Gallery and Salford Art Gallery. His work is in the collections of Stoke-on-Trent Art Gallery, Newcastle-under-Lyme Museum, the London County Council Pictures for Schools Collection and British Broadcasting Corporation. Shelton’s work was exhibited at ‘The Burslem Boys’ exhibition at Barewall Gallery, Burslem in October 2012 alongside work of his Burslem School of Art contemporaries Norman Cope and Arthur Berry.