Norman Adams RA (1927-2005)

The Sound of Scarp and Vision of Bernadette (c.1980) (Double sided)

24 x 26 cm

Watercolour

Norman Adams RA, former professor of painting at the Royal Academy, felt strongly that, “art [without religion] would be a pretty empty vocation.” Despite not going to church, nor identifying with any specific belief system, the artist’s paintings of the natural world, often dramatic in nature, betray a strong spiritual intensity. On one side of this watercolour Adams has painted a monumental wave crash, captioned ‘Southwest Wind – Very Rough Sea The Sea of Scarp.’ On the other, is a softer, lilac abstraction entitled ‘Vision of Bernadette’, a reference to Saint Bernadette’s famous visions of Mary at the Lourdes grotto.

He studied at Harrow School of Art (1940-46) and then the Royal College of Art (1948-51). His first solo show was at Gimpel Fils in 1952, and his last at the Fine Art Society in 2004. His works included many murals and stage designs. There are many of his major works in the national collection, including the Tate, Leeds Museums, The Whitworth, the Royal College of Art, Bristol Museums, Leicester Museums, The Royal Academy and the Hepworth, Wakefield.