William R. Newland (potter)
Encyclopedia
William Rupert Newland was a New Zealand
born studio potter
who lived in England after the Second World War.
From 1945-1947 he studied painting at the Chelsea School of Art. He studied art education at the Institute of Education
, 1947-8 where he learned pottery
under Beth Wright, who sent him to the Central School of Art & Design in 1948. There he studied ceramics under Dora Billington
. He taught evening classes in ceramics at the Central School of Art & Design from 1949 to 1965. In 1949 he began a teaching career at the Institute of Education, where his students included Nicholas Vergette and Margaret Hine. Newland and Hine married in 1950. He continued at the Institute until 1982, when he retired from teaching
In 1949, Newland, Vergette and Hine visited Malaga
in Spain
where they saw tin-glazed earthenware. In 1950, they set up a studio in London
working in this medium, which was very different from the prevailing fashion for high-fired stoneware
represented by Bernard Leach
. Their first exhibition included tiles and walls panels, as a result of which they were commissioned to decorate several coffee bars, which were then new and fashionable. Newland and Hine decorated the Golden Egg chain of coffee bars and restaurants in the 1960s.
As their work showed the influence of Picasso, Bernard Leach
derisively called them "Picassoettes". Picasso had been making tin-glazed pottery in the south of France since the end of the war. In 1950 the Arts Council
mounted an exhibition called "Picasso in Provence". The potter Kenneth Clark described Picasso's influence on ceramics as follows: "During this period of change Picasso with his daring, invention, colour-sense and imagination, shattered and shocked the traditionalist potters with his experiments in ceramics. ... [H]e added fresh life and new direction to ceramics ... " Newland himself said, "It wasn't that we were anti-Leach - but there were other things to do."
Newland's style went out of fashion in the 1960s and most of his work for coffee bars has been lost. There has been a recent revival of interest as evidenced by the references cited below.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
born studio potter
Studio potter
A studio potter is one who is a modern artist, who either works alone or in a small group, producing unique items of pottery in small quantities, typically with all stages of manufacture carried out by themselves. Studio pottery includes functional wares such as tableware or cookware, and...
who lived in England after the Second World War.
From 1945-1947 he studied painting at the Chelsea School of Art. He studied art education at the Institute of Education
Institute of Education
The Institute of Education is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom specialised in postgraduate study and research in the field of education and a constituent college of the federal University of London. It is the largest education research body in the United Kingdom, with...
, 1947-8 where he learned pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
under Beth Wright, who sent him to the Central School of Art & Design in 1948. There he studied ceramics under Dora Billington
Dora Billington
Dora Billington was an English teacher of pottery and a studio potter. She was born into a family of potters in Stoke-on-Trent and studied at Hanley School of Art. She worked as a decorator for Bernard Moore, 1912-1915, and then took a diploma in ceramics at the Royal College of Art 1915-1916...
. He taught evening classes in ceramics at the Central School of Art & Design from 1949 to 1965. In 1949 he began a teaching career at the Institute of Education, where his students included Nicholas Vergette and Margaret Hine. Newland and Hine married in 1950. He continued at the Institute until 1982, when he retired from teaching
In 1949, Newland, Vergette and Hine visited Malaga
Málaga
Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,507 in 2010, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe...
in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
where they saw tin-glazed earthenware. In 1950, they set up a studio in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
working in this medium, which was very different from the prevailing fashion for high-fired stoneware
Stoneware
Stoneware is a vitreous or semi-vitreous ceramic ware with a fine texture. Stoneware is made from clay that is then fired in a kiln, whether by an artisan to make homeware, or in an industrial kiln for mass-produced or specialty products...
represented by Bernard Leach
Bernard Leach
Bernard Howell Leach, CBE, CH , was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery"-Biography:...
. Their first exhibition included tiles and walls panels, as a result of which they were commissioned to decorate several coffee bars, which were then new and fashionable. Newland and Hine decorated the Golden Egg chain of coffee bars and restaurants in the 1960s.
As their work showed the influence of Picasso, Bernard Leach
Bernard Leach
Bernard Howell Leach, CBE, CH , was a British studio potter and art teacher. He is regarded as the "Father of British studio pottery"-Biography:...
derisively called them "Picassoettes". Picasso had been making tin-glazed pottery in the south of France since the end of the war. In 1950 the Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
mounted an exhibition called "Picasso in Provence". The potter Kenneth Clark described Picasso's influence on ceramics as follows: "During this period of change Picasso with his daring, invention, colour-sense and imagination, shattered and shocked the traditionalist potters with his experiments in ceramics. ... [H]e added fresh life and new direction to ceramics ... " Newland himself said, "It wasn't that we were anti-Leach - but there were other things to do."
Newland's style went out of fashion in the 1960s and most of his work for coffee bars has been lost. There has been a recent revival of interest as evidenced by the references cited below.