11 THE ART OBSERVER May 2008 Kenneth Lawson Behind the Scenes By Wendy J Levy KENNETH LAWSON  has enjoyed a long and distinguished career as an artist. Born in 1920, he started painting seriously at the age of 16 and a few years later, in 1942, was accepted and “hung” in Burlington House in an exhibition of work by  the “London Group”. This group of artists sprang from a group of Impressionist painters working in Camden Town. A founding member of this group was the eminent artist, David Bomberg. During this exhibition Lawson’s work received high praise from the art critics of the time and successful exhibitions followed at major galleries in London, including the Redfern Gallery, Cork Street; The Leger Gallery, Bond Street; and The Leicester Gallery, Panton Street. The celebrated artist, Graham Sutherland, was commissioned to produce a huge painting for the Festival of Britain in 1951. He had not previously worked on anything so large and sought the help of Kenneth Lawson who was, himself, quite accustomed to transferring small-scale drawings to large-scale canvases. Measuring 167.5 inches x 131.25 inches, the painting, entitled ‘Origins of the Land’, was created at the Tate Gallery, Millbank, and has remained there ever since. Unfortunately, during its exhibition, the painting was slashed by a vandal and, on Graham Sutherland’s request, Kenneth Lawson successfully restored it. One of Lawson’s treasured possessions is a book, ‘The Work of Graham Sutherland’, on the title page of which is inscribed “For Kenneth, without whose intelligent and calm help ‘The Origins’ might not have been done!  From his friend, Graham Sutherland. Menton 1/7/70” The success of the collaboration on ‘The Origins of the Land’ resulted in another project in 1952 and 1953 when Kenneth Lawson worked with Graham Sutherland on the drawings of the world’s largest tapestry which was made in France and later installed at Coventry Cathedral. Lawson was the only assistant Sutherland ever had. Kenneth Lawson’s original mentor, when in Dulwich, S.E. London, was the Royal Academician, James Fitton, who remained advisor and friend until his death in 1982, aged 83 years. Lawson’s career was also absorbed by the world of theatre. Working as Scenic Artist and Designer at many prestigious theatres including, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and then “senior designer” with the then newly formed BBC Television Service production Unit, he was responsi- ble for such major successes as “The Good Old Days”, Top of The Pops and The Ken Dodd Variety Shows, as well as the Harry Worth and the Val Doonican series and many other much loved programmes. He also designed seven operas, including ‘Tosca’ and ‘Madame Butterfly’, for the South Yorkshire Opera Company, at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre. Now living mainly in the North West of England, he has travelled to France, Italy, Madeira, and Grand Canary, and in recent years has spent his winters in the milder tempera- tures of the South of France. His travels have resulted in many paintings of the landscapes and seascapes that he loves, with much of his early work depicting the artists’ haven, Cornwall. Lawson’s paintings are produced with a unique vision and experienced hand. His loose and expressive brush strokes depict the emotional elements of nature rather than it’s structure. His work has been shown in the Manchester and Salford Art Galleries and is in many collections in this country and abroad. At eighty seven years old, we salute this tall, handsome and distinguished man who has contributed so earnestly to his fellow artists and to the world of art. White Light, Green Shoots Impressions, Esterel Blue Evening, Ligurian Coastline Photographs by: Phil Portus Photography www.philportusphotography.co.uk