Obituary, Review of Sussex Arts magazine, issue 9, 2024
1939: Born in Salfords, Surrey, on February 9 to Frederick and Elizabeth Easton (neé Rudge). Fred was a mathematical instrument maker and amateur artist, and Elizabeth a former Major in the Salvation Army. They met through the Salvation Army.
194?-??: Albert Road Infants and County Primary School, Horley, Surrey.
195?: First job at (Cheales, Merstham?) rose nursery, where he developed his lifelong love of roses. His job was to graft the roses. Here he met Belle, his first fiancé, who worked as a rose ‘tyer’.
Started racing pigeons.
National service. ‘Bad feet’ saw him dismissed from service early. Spent most of his time in the sick bay painting regimental badges on kit bags for the other soldiers.
Trained as a nurse
1963-6: Studied Painting and Printmaking at Reigate School of Art, where he met his first wife Julia (neé Tutt). Studied under Michael Noakes, James Dring and Stanley Ayres. Close friends at art school with ceramicist Gus Hyatt.
1968: Married Julia at Reigate Register Office.
196?-73: Worked as a nurse and art therapist for people with developmental disabilities at the Royal Earlswood Hospital, Redhill. Here he established a pioneering art therapy department for its residents. Many of his sketchbooks and paintings from this period feature drawings and portraits of his patients. Some works are held in the collection of the Langdon Down Museum of Learning Disability.
1969: First daughter, Rowena, born on September 30.
1970: First one-man show, at Fairfield Halls, Croydon.
1971: Second daughter, Rhiannon, born on January 20. In November Arthur organised a pioneering exhibition of his patients’ work in Gallery Seven, Reigate, Surrey.
1973: Left his job at Royal Earlswood to become a full-time artist.
1974: Divorced
1976: Married Beryl-Anne (neé Williams), an art therapist working at the Royal Earlswood.
1978: Third daughter, Angharad, born on January 10. Started racing whippets around this time. Had 7 racing dogs, including Sardinella his champion racer.
1979: Elected to the Royal Institute of Oil Painters (ROI).
1980: Elected to the National Society of Painters, Sculptors & Printmakers
1982: Awarded Diploma of Merit, Florence University of the Arts, Italy
Divorced
Married Carolle Twitchin, a librarian and poet.
1991: Awarded Stanley Grimm Prize at the ROI annual show.
Moved to Newdigate, Surrey. Started racing pigeons again.
2005: Awarded the Le Clerc Fowle Medal
Moved to Devon. Built up a room-size collection of succulents.
arthur easton estate 