BALMER Derek P.R.W.A., Hon.
R.A. (born 1934)
“Jester”
Oil Painting on canvas 30” x
20” (761 x 507mm)
Signed & dated 78/79
Titled “Jester” and dated on
reverse IMAGE
Derek Balmer, painter and photographer, is noted for his richly
coloured abstracts and painterly landscapes of Britain and abroad. Balmer was born and lives in Bristol where he
became a noted photographer, closely associated with the Bristol Old Vic. John Boorman, later a Hollywood director,
used Balmer as his photographer during the making of television
documentaries. Aged 15, Balmer was
accepted at the West of England College of Art by Donald Milner and his
teachers included Paul Feiler. He
exhibits at the Royal West of England Academy of which he is a Member and
where, in 2001 he became the Academy’s 18th President. He also held his first public exhibition
there in 1958, Other group exhibitions include Fimbarrus and Arnolfini
Galleries in Bath and Bristol, Bear Lane Gallery in Oxford, Louise Hallett
Gallery and New Art Centre. He had a
solo show at Fimbarrus Gallery in 1959, with later ones including the Sharples
Gallery at the RWA in 1980, Gisela van Beers in 1991 and Anthony Hepworth, Bath
in 1992. Ancient Places was held at Campden Gallery, Chipping Campden in
2005. In 1965 he won the Prix d’Natalie in Provence and following other
successes was the 1983 finalist at the Avon Open Exhibition at Arnolfini
Gallery, Bristol. Derek Balmer is
represented in public collections in Britain and abroad.
