Denis Bowen 1921-2006

Painter and gallery owner, born in Kimberley, South Africa, but took United Kingdom citizenship in 1962. He was married for a time to the artist Judy Stapleton. Bowen received early education in north of England, and attended Huddersfield Art School on a County Award. He was accepted at Royal College of Art in 1940, but Royal Navy service, which involved extensive travel, put back his studies there to 1946-50, his teachers including Rodrigo Moynihan, John Minton and Carel Weight. Bowen soon began to make a name as a leading experimental painter; he taught at various provincial art colleges as well as Royal College and Central School of Arts and Crafts; in 1952 along with other members of the ICA he founded the Free Painters' Group; and from 1956-66 he founded and directed the New Vision Centre, with Frank Avray Wilson and Halima Nalecz, which became a focal point for the work of advanced artists from Europe and elsewhere.