Greg Poole

English painter

Manchester Metropolitan University

OccupationPainter

Websitehttp://www.gregpoole.co.uk/

Gregory Poole (1960-2018) was a British painter, graphic artist and printmaker, known for his wildlife subjects, especially birds.

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]

Publications

La Riviera (in French). Gallimard. 1999. ISBN 978-2070528585.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Dee, Tim (11 January 2019). "Greg Poole obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Mead, Harriet (8 January 2019). "Greg Poole 1960-2018". Society of Wildlife Artists.
^ Mabbett, Andy (10 August 2010). "Sandwell Valley (West Midlands County)". West Midland Bird Club. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^ Lloyd, Matt (29 March 2010). "Sandwell Valley visitors' centre gutted by fire". Birmingham Mail. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 April 2010.
^ ^a ^b ^c Poole, Greg. "Illustration". Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^ ^a ^b "Greg Poole". Society of Wildlife Artists. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^ "Artists at Nature in Art". Nature in Art. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^ Plumb, Jack. "Nature and art: the RSPB award goes to... - Natures Home magazine uncovered - Our work - The RSPB Community". RSPB. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
^ Poole, Greg. "Long Profile". Retrieved 10 May 2019.