Stanley Cornwell Lewis
Encyclopedia
Stanley Cornwell Lewis MBE
(December 18, 1905 – September 9, 2009) was a British
portrait painter and illustrator.
Lewis was born in Wales
and studied at the Newport School of Art in Wales from 1923 to 1926. He was then awarded a place at the Royal College of Art
where he studied from 1926 until 1930. In 1930 he won second prize in the Rome Scholarship Awards in Mural Painting, and later that year returned home to take up the post of Painting Master at Newport School of Art. In 1939 war was declared and he was called up in 1941 for initial training in North Wales and joined the Searchlight Regiment of the Gloucester Regiment in Somerset
. After the war Stanley Lewis became Principal of Carmarthen School of Art where he taught until his retirement in 1967. Stanley Lewis, together with his wife, Minnie Lewis, are the author and illustrator of the book "Laugharne and Dylan Thomas", about their friend and neighbour, Dylan Thomas. With Michael Ayrton and Enzo Piazzotta he held a three-man show at the Bruton Gallery.
His painting The Welsh Molecatcher (1937) was voted the most popular picture at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that year. It hangs today at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery
in Wales. His wartime painting of The Attack on the Battleship, Turpitz, is now at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
at Yeovilton, Somerset. Stanley Lewis exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1932 and 1961:
In 2006 Lewis was awarded the MBE for services to the arts and, until his death, was working on an illustrated book of his wartime experiences.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(December 18, 1905 – September 9, 2009) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
portrait painter and illustrator.
Lewis was born in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
and studied at the Newport School of Art in Wales from 1923 to 1926. He was then awarded a place at the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
where he studied from 1926 until 1930. In 1930 he won second prize in the Rome Scholarship Awards in Mural Painting, and later that year returned home to take up the post of Painting Master at Newport School of Art. In 1939 war was declared and he was called up in 1941 for initial training in North Wales and joined the Searchlight Regiment of the Gloucester Regiment in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
. After the war Stanley Lewis became Principal of Carmarthen School of Art where he taught until his retirement in 1967. Stanley Lewis, together with his wife, Minnie Lewis, are the author and illustrator of the book "Laugharne and Dylan Thomas", about their friend and neighbour, Dylan Thomas. With Michael Ayrton and Enzo Piazzotta he held a three-man show at the Bruton Gallery.
His painting The Welsh Molecatcher (1937) was voted the most popular picture at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition that year. It hangs today at the Newport Museum and Art Gallery
Newport Museum
Newport Museum is a museum and art gallery in the city of Newport, Wales. It is located in Newport city centre on John Frost Square and is adjoined to the Kingsway Shopping Centre.-The museum collection:...
in Wales. His wartime painting of The Attack on the Battleship, Turpitz, is now at the Fleet Air Arm Museum
Fleet Air Arm Museum
The Fleet Air Arm Museum is located north of Yeovil, and south of Bristol. It has an extensive collection of military and civilian aircraft, as well as models of Royal Navy ships, especially aircraft carriers. Some of the museum has interactive displays...
at Yeovilton, Somerset. Stanley Lewis exhibited at the Royal Academy between 1932 and 1961:
- 1932 - Portrait of Valerie, Portrait of Edith
- 1936 - Portrait of a Ploughman
- 1937 - The Welsh Mole Catcher, Portrait of Mrs Kirkley
- 1939 - Portrait of a Girl with a Rose
- 1940 - The Croesyceilliog Blacksmiths, The Doll
- 1955 - The Welsh DresserWelsh dresserA Welsh dresser or a china hutch and sometimes known as a kitchen dresser or pewter cupboard, is a piece of wooden furniture consisting of drawers and cupboards in the lower part, and shelves on top...
- 1961 - Horsepool Road, Laugharne
In 2006 Lewis was awarded the MBE for services to the arts and, until his death, was working on an illustrated book of his wartime experiences.