UPFRON T / PROFILE
about visual and philosophical matters. As pupils wrestled with problems concerning figure drawing or colour relationships they ABOVE would suddenly realise A painting by Robin Child's that the precise answer former student Emily Faccini that they needed was RIGHT being articulated with One of Child's own paintings crystal clarity. Startling LEFT revelations occurred on a is something which he is A painting by Child's former regular basis in this packed incapable of doing. In his student Silvy Wetherall arena during marathons of work he has been hugely sustained focus. indebted to Jan, his wife, who Robin Child’s teaching for years entertained and looked extended far beyond the realms of after so many Marlburians at their making pictures, and the steady stream house in George Lane, the home of their of advice and thoughts presented a daughters Rachel, Lauren and Jenny. Montaigne-like explanation of how to live. The legacy of Robin Child’s teaching His work extended into adult education can be found throughout the world of art through the Marlborough Summer School, and design. So many former pupils have the University of the Third Age and through gone on to great things, but conversations the astonishing courses at Wedhampton about the Art School feature large in which he developed after his departure the recollections of many former pupils from the College. He lectured nationally and who have gone onto work in other areas. internationally to thousands of teachers and What he gave them was self-belief, with established his Research Centre courses. art lessons that provided them with His work has continued at Sidmouth where some of the first and most important some supposed he had gone to retire. This bridges into the adult world. He is an
educator par excellence but he has been something of an embarrassment to the establishment of the art world. He has never courted publicity and he remains almost invisible on the internet, but his example and his wisdom should be taken note of and celebrated.
D R N I A L L H A M I LTO N Senior Admissions Tutor Marlborough College SPRING 2018 | A B S O LU T E LY E D U C AT I O N | 23
AB ED_Spring2018_Robin Child Sothebys.indd 23
11/01/2018 11:17