Robert Norman HeppleRARP (18 May 1908 – 3 January 1994) was an English portrait painter, engraver and sculptor, best known for his portraits of the British royal family.[1] He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948 and served as their president from 1979 to 1983. Elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954, Hepple became an Academician in 1961.[2]
Hepple was born in London and was the son of the painter Robert Watkin Hepple and the nephew of Wilson Hepple, the animal painter from Northumbria. Hepple studied at Goldsmiths College of Art and then the Royal Academy Schools, under Sir Walter Russell, where he obtained a scholarship in engraving.[3][4] During the 1930s Hepple illustrated the books of the Shropshire novelist Mary Webb.[5]
World War IIedit
Canadian Fireman, Overseas Contingent (1944) (Art.IWM ART LD 4721)
At the start of the Second World War Hepple joined the Auxiliary Fire Service, which in 1941 became the National Fire Service, NFS, and served as a fire-fighter during the London Blitz. A number of other artists had joined the NFS and a firemen artists' committee had been formed which included Leonard Rosoman, Bernard Hailstone, Paul Lucien Dessau and Robert Coram. As well as contributing to both War Artists' Advisory Committee, WAAC, and specialist civil defence art shows, the firemen held several of their own exhibitions. WAAC initially purchased two paintings by Hepple, one in 1940 and another in 1941. In 1943 WAAC commissioned a series of drawings from Hepple of NFS personnel and were to purchase another five paintings, including a fine portrait of a Canadian fire-fighter, from him before the war ended.[6] At least one painting by Hepple was included in the firemen artists exhibitions that toured America during the war.[7]
Post-war careeredit
After the war Hepple resumed his career as a professional artist. In 1950 he designed a poster for British Railways, Service to Industry and Shipbuilding.[8] He painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on three occasions;- in 1965 for the Royal Marines, in 1978 for the island of Jersey and also in 1978 for the submarine officers of HMS Dolphin.[8] He painted notable portraits of Prince Charles, Prince Philip and of the Queen Mother, who sat for him for four separate commissions.[8] His 1978 portrait of Queen Elizabeth was adapted for use on banknotes issued in Jersey.[4] Hepple was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948[9] and served as their president from 1979 to 1983. The New English Art Club elected Hepple as a member in 1950.[9] He was elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954, and became a full Academician in 1961.[2] Failing eyesight eventually curtailed his painting career. He died from injuries he received after being run over by a motorist whilst returning to his home in Richmond in London from a meeting at the Royal Academy.[10]
Referencesedit
^"Obituaries: Norman Hepple, Portrait Painter,85". The New York Times. 17 January 1994. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
^ abDavid Buckman (1998). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN0-95326-095-X.
^ abGrant M. Waters (1975). Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900–1950. Eastbourne Fine Art.
^John Ward (15 January 1994). "Obituary:Norman Hepple". The Independent. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norman Hepple.
58 artworks by or after Norman Hepple at the Art UK site
January 01, 1970
norman, hepple, robert, 1908, january, 1994, english, portrait, painter, engraver, sculptor, best, known, portraits, british, royal, family, elected, member, royal, society, portrait, painters, 1948, served, their, president, from, 1979, 1983, elected, associa. Robert Norman Hepple RA RP 18 May 1908 3 January 1994 was an English portrait painter engraver and sculptor best known for his portraits of the British royal family 1 He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948 and served as their president from 1979 to 1983 Elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954 Hepple became an Academician in 1961 2 Norman HeppleBorn 1908 05 18 18 May 1908London EnglandDied3 January 1994 1994 01 03 aged 85 London EnglandNationalityBritishEducationGoldsmiths College of ArtRoyal Academy SchoolsKnown forPainting drawing Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 World War II 1 3 Post war career 2 References 3 External linksBiography editEarly life edit Hepple was born in London and was the son of the painter Robert Watkin Hepple and the nephew of Wilson Hepple the animal painter from Northumbria Hepple studied at Goldsmiths College of Art and then the Royal Academy Schools under Sir Walter Russell where he obtained a scholarship in engraving 3 4 During the 1930s Hepple illustrated the books of the Shropshire novelist Mary Webb 5 World War II edit nbsp Canadian Fireman Overseas Contingent 1944 Art IWM ART LD 4721 At the start of the Second World War Hepple joined the Auxiliary Fire Service which in 1941 became the National Fire Service NFS and served as a fire fighter during the London Blitz A number of other artists had joined the NFS and a firemen artists committee had been formed which included Leonard Rosoman Bernard Hailstone Paul Lucien Dessau and Robert Coram As well as contributing to both War Artists Advisory Committee WAAC and specialist civil defence art shows the firemen held several of their own exhibitions WAAC initially purchased two paintings by Hepple one in 1940 and another in 1941 In 1943 WAAC commissioned a series of drawings from Hepple of NFS personnel and were to purchase another five paintings including a fine portrait of a Canadian fire fighter from him before the war ended 6 At least one painting by Hepple was included in the firemen artists exhibitions that toured America during the war 7 Post war career edit After the war Hepple resumed his career as a professional artist In 1950 he designed a poster for British Railways Service to Industry and Shipbuilding 8 He painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on three occasions in 1965 for the Royal Marines in 1978 for the island of Jersey and also in 1978 for the submarine officers of HMS Dolphin 8 He painted notable portraits of Prince Charles Prince Philip and of the Queen Mother who sat for him for four separate commissions 8 His 1978 portrait of Queen Elizabeth was adapted for use on banknotes issued in Jersey 4 Hepple was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948 9 and served as their president from 1979 to 1983 The New English Art Club elected Hepple as a member in 1950 9 He was elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954 and became a full Academician in 1961 2 Failing eyesight eventually curtailed his painting career He died from injuries he received after being run over by a motorist whilst returning to his home in Richmond in London from a meeting at the Royal Academy 10 References edit Obituaries Norman Hepple Portrait Painter 85 The New York Times 17 January 1994 Retrieved 14 January 2014 a b David Buckman 1998 Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1 A to L Art Dictionaries Ltd ISBN 0 95326 095 X Frances Spalding 1990 20th Century Painters and Sculptors Antique Collectors Club ISBN 1 85149 106 6 a b Stephen Bury 2012 Norman Hepple Oup USA ISBN 978 0 19 992305 2 Retrieved 14 January 2014 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a work ignored help Alan Horne 1994 The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators Antique Collectors Club ISBN 1 85149 108 2 War Artists archive Norman Hepple Imperial War Museum Retrieved 14 January 2014 Exhibition by London Fire Brigade in USA Imperial War Museum Retrieved 14 January 2014 a b c Benezit Dictionary of Artists Volume 6 Gemignani Herring Editions Grund Paris 2006 ISBN 2 7000 3076 1 a b Grant M Waters 1975 Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900 1950 Eastbourne Fine Art John Ward 15 January 1994 Obituary Norman Hepple The Independent Archived from the original on 21 June 2022 Retrieved 14 January 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Norman Hepple 58 artworks by or after Norman Hepple at the Art UK site Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Norman Hepple amp oldid 1171822737, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
