Greg Poole | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 October 1960  Bristol |
| Died | 28 December 2018 (aged 58) |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Painter |
| Website | http://www.gregpoole.co.uk/ |
Gregory Poole (1960–2018) was a British painter, graphic artist and printmaker, known for his wildlife subjects, especially birds.
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Poole was born in Bristol, England, on 26 October 1960, to May (née Rex), a teaching assistant, and John Poole, a gas fitter. [1] As a youth, he was a bird watcher and trained as a bird ringer. [1] He was educated at Cotham Grammar School [1] and then studied zoology at Cardiff University. During field work in Canada, he developed the desire to use art to express his feelings about nature. [1] After a period as a volunteer warden at Bardsey Bird and Field Observatory, [1] he undertook a foundation course at Manchester Polytechnic in order to develop his skills as an artist. [2]
He designed a carpet, depicting several examples of the food chain, for the visitor centre at RSPB Sandwell Valley. [3] The carpet was lost in March 2010, when the building was destroyed by arson. [4] He also designed graphic interpretation panels for a number of public open spaces. [5] For the latter he worked digitally, using a graphics tablet. [5]
He exhibited with the Society of Wildlife Artists in 1991 and was a member from 1993. [2] [6] He undertook a number of residencies at the gallery Nature in Art, whose collection includes some of his work. [7] He served three terms on the Society's governing council. [6] He received the 2011 Birdscapes Gallery Printmaker's prize, [2] and the 2015 RSPB Art Award. [8] He also taught classes in drawing. [2]
He cited the artists Nicola Henley and Kim Atkinson as early influences, [9] and later collaborated with David Measures on shared canvasses. [1]
Poole, who was based in Bristol, [5] died on 28 December 2018 after experiencing complications following a heart attack, [2] and is survived by his partner Susan and a brother. [1]