Patrick Heron 1920-1999
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Patrick Heron (1920–1999) was a British painter known for his bold use of colour and his role in shaping post-war abstract art. Born in Leeds and later based in Cornwall, he drew lasting inspiration from the light and landscape of the Cornish coast.
Heron’s early work showed the influence of European modernists, but he quickly developed a personal style defined by flat fields of vibrant colour and irregular shapes. He was especially interested in how colour could create space and movement without relying on traditional perspective.
He lived and worked near St Ives and became closely associated with the group of artists based there, though his work always maintained its independence. Heron was also a respected writer and critic, known for his clear thinking and strong opinions on modern art. His legacy continues to shape how colour and abstraction are approached in British painting.
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Works
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24 June : 1992, 1992Sold
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Biography24 June : 1992, 1992
Patrick Heron (30 January 1920 – 20 March 1999) was a British abstract and figurative artist, critic, writer, and polemicist, who lived in Zennor, Cornwall.
Heron was recognised as one of the leading painters of his generation. Influenced by Cézanne, Matisse, Braque and Bonnard, Heron made a significant contribution to the dissemination of modernist ideas of painting through his critical writing and primarily his art.
Heron's artworks are most noted for his exploration and use of colour and light. He is known for both his early figurative work and non-figurative works, which over the years looked to explore further the idea of making all areas of the painting of equal importance. His work was exhibited widely throughout his career and while he wrote regularly early in his career, notably for New Statesman and Arts New York, this continued periodically in later years.
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Exhibitions
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FAQs
Patrick Heron (1920–1999) was a British artist and art critic known for his vibrant abstract paintings and his role in post-war modernist movements. Born in Leeds, he spent much of his life in Cornwall, where the coastal light and landscape had a lasting influence on his work. Heron began his career with figurative and still life painting but moved towards abstraction in the 1950s. His art is celebrated for its luminous colour, bold shapes, and exploration of spatial relationships, making him one of the leading figures in British abstract art.
Patrick Heron’s style is defined by bold abstraction, luminous colour fields, and a keen sense of spatial arrangement. His paintings often feature irregular, organic shapes in vibrant, saturated colours, creating dynamic, visually rich surfaces. Influenced by Matisse and the American Colour Field painters, Heron sought to use colour as a means of defining space and form. Throughout his career, he experimented with hard-edged compositions as well as more fluid, loosely structured works. His distinctive use of colour and shape helped to establish him as a central figure in 20th-century British painting.
Patrick Heron found lasting inspiration in the landscapes and gardens of Cornwall, the quality of coastal light, and the possibilities of pure colour and form. Early in his career, he painted still lifes and figures, but as his focus shifted towards abstraction, he sought to capture sensations of space and light rather than specific subjects. The natural environment remained important to his sense of rhythm and structure, even in his most abstract works. Heron’s art reflects a constant dialogue between the natural world and the expressive possibilities of colour and composition.
Patrick Heron briefly attended the Slade School of Fine Art in London between 1937 and 1939, although much of his artistic development was self-directed. Influenced by early encounters with modernist painting and supported by his work in the textile industry, Heron built a strong understanding of colour and design. His informal education, combined with exposure to European modernism and friendships with artists like Ben Nicholson and Barbara Hepworth, shaped his move towards abstraction. Heron’s wide interests in both practice and theory contributed significantly to his mature style.
Patrick Heron is regarded as one of the most influential British abstract artists of the 20th century. His vibrant use of colour, innovative handling of space, and influential writings on modern art have secured his place in British art history. Major retrospectives of his work, including exhibitions at Tate St Ives and Tate Britain, have highlighted his significance. Beyond painting, Heron’s contributions as a critic and supporter of contemporary art helped shape discussions about abstraction in post-war Britain. His work continues to inspire new generations of artists and remains highly celebrated.
Patrick Heron’s work has been widely exhibited both in Britain and internationally. Major retrospectives have been held at Tate St Ives, Tate Britain, and the Barbican Centre in London. His paintings have also been shown in Europe and the United States, helping to establish his reputation beyond the UK. Heron’s work has appeared in important group exhibitions alongside leading modernist artists. Many of his paintings are now part of major public and private collections, where they are admired for their bold use of colour, spatial innovation, and lasting influence on modern painting.
