Colin Moss

1914-2005

Born in Ipswich in 1914 Colin Moss was a draughtsman, teacher and soldier but it was distinctive painting talent that earned him renown. His skill with a brush placed him favourably alongside the "Kitchen Sink" artists of the 1950's such as John Bratby, Derrick Greaves and Jack Smith but, he managed to avoid the prevalent trends of abstractionism to tread a lonelier, yet determined path outside of the mainstream.

All of Colin Moss's drawings and paintings are stated with uncompromising intensity and power which evokes passion yet an underlying grittiness. He keenly represented the human condition in all of its forms portraying the hard-hitting reality of working class urban life in the mid 20th Century; the poor and unemployed, gossipers in terraced streets, lovers on park benches, prostitutes tramps and drunks. His nudes were full-bodied and sensuous, his religious figures anguished and his studies of flowers, fish and fruit lively and ravishing.

Few other East Anglian artists have tackled the subject of death camp victims at Auschwitz and of refugees forced out of their homes by the horrors of war. His work as a camouflage designer for the Ministry of Defense is now acclaimed but it was his experiences as a soldier on active duty on Africa and Palestine during WWII that led to the production of some of his most powerful pieces.

After retiring from the Ipswich School of Art where he taught for 32 years, Colin had a greater freedom to paint. The 1980's saw him take special pleasure in painting oil studies of his garden and a wonderful series of flowers in vibrant watercolors as well as continuing his staple series of nudes.

Whether we look at Colin's most recent work or that produced over 60 years ago it is impossible not to admire his consistent energy, application and uncompromising attitude that speaks out through all his paintings. He was always true to himself. Through his acute observations of ordinary people over six decades he has immortalised the details of contemporary life, from pre-war Britian to destitution on the streets during the 1990's.

The honesty of Colin Moss's vision, revealing both the light and dark sides of everyday human existence, has touched many lives and will surely continue to do so.