Michael Renton Original Pencil Nude 1950s. Dispatched with Royal Mail 2nd Class.
paper 51cm x 38cm
Engraver on wood and stone, Calligrapher. Born in Middlesex, Renton studied at Harrow School of Art (1949-50) and was then apprenticed as a commercial wood engraver to S. Slinger Ltd in Horseferry Road, London, where he stayed until 1960. He served in the RAF on National Service for two years. Whilst working at Slinger’s he attended evening classes at the City and Guilds Art School. In 1960 after he moved to Icklesham, near Winchelsea there he worked as a free lance artist illustrating books for various private press’s such as the Fleece Press, Folio Society. In Rye, he painted many shop fascia signs. Being a stone cutter, he also carved gravestones, so when he was forced to leave Winchelsea he moved to Winchester where the Dean and Chapter of the cathedral had been his patrons. He concentrated on carving head stones, carving his own in 1998. But it was during this time that he taught typography as a visitor at Reading University, he was a member of the Letter Exchange and gave a lecture there at Art Workers Guild in Queen’s Square.
Some of the views of Rye were made to illustrate the book ‘Portrait of Rye by Malcolm Saville, published 1976.