Anthony Whishaw RA, artist
Anthony Whishaw, RA., is a painter and draughtsman. He studied at Chelsea College of Art (1948-52) and the Royal College of Art (1952-55) where he received three travelling scholarships. He has taught at Chelsea and St Martins (1958-92) and has won several prizes and awards during his career including an Arts Council of Great Britain Award in 1978 and the John Moores Minor Painting Prize in 1982. He is a member of the London Group, and the Royal West of England Academy. A full biography can be seen at www.anthonywhishaw.com.
View this artist in the Tate Collection
Boats at Cowes circa 1827
Starting with Turner’s image upside down, I worked on four interpretations, each one revolved through 90 degrees. My intention was to interpret the collection of marks with as little reference as possible to their subject matter in order as to elicit the purely visual aspect of their structure and placement.
When I saw the first drawing the right way up, what seemed like a collection of blobs turned out to be people, boats, a buoy, and some misty sails on the horizon.
I was surprised, especially as this little exercise also helped me to resolve problems with two small paintings that had reached an impasse.