Page 114 - Redditch People
P. 114
Redditch People
After World War II Norman lectured at the Birmingham College of Art
He also taught at the Bournville Art College and at Aston.
Later in 1953 he moved to a teaching post at Redditch School of Art, later became the
Head of the Department
He retired from teaching in 1979 in order to devote all his time to painting, and became
a member of the Royal Watercolour Society.
Norman Neasom RWS, RBSA, SAS gained success and recognition as a professional
watercolour painter exhibiting at the Royal Academy, The Royal Watercolour Society,
Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, The Mall
Gallery London, Chris Beetles Gallery London and the Stratford Art Society.
His work is also in the permanent collections of Her Majesty the Queen, Birmingham
Museum and Art Gallery, Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Birmingham Society of Artists
and the West Midlands Arts Council.
Norman painted entirely from his sketch book using quick pencil sketches of scenes that
captured his imagination. He was often to be found quickly jotting on any piece of paper
he may have in his pocket humorous sketches of a character he may have seen in a local
pub or even in the supermarket. His incredible imagination was the trademark of Norman
Neasom's work.
Norman always had time for his home town of Redditch and in his later years he produced
items such as a model of Redditch based on the description by Monk in 1776 and a superb
painting of how Forge Mill
Scouring Mill would have looked
like in the 19th Century.
Sadly Norman passed away in his
95th year during February 2010,
he was a well-loved and collected
artist and we are fortunate that,
as a prolific artist over an 80 year
period, he has left a phenomenal
Alan Cotton, the well-known
artist and President of the South
West Academy, was a pupil of
Norman Neasom. Writing about
him and his work, Alan says
"Norman drew like an angel. He
opened up a whole new world for
me. Working alongside someone
Painting by Norman of Forge Mill water who drew so brilliantly was a
Powered Scouring Mill as it would have great education. As a painter
Norman worked in the great
pastoral tradition of artists such
as Samuel Palmer, but his own distinctive vision has produced a diverse body of work of
extraordinary quality. I have always been and still remain a great fan."
legacy for us all to enjoy.
Page: 114 © RLHS 2015
