Sheila Fell

Art Brokerage: Sheila Fell English Artist: b. 1931-1979. Sheila Fell was an English artist. She was born at Aspatria, Cumberland in 1931, and although she lived in London for the greater part of her life, she devoted her career to painting and drawing places close to her place of birth. The Cumberland landscape would always remain her chief influence, inspiration and theme. After her early education at Richmond Hill School, Aspatria, Sheila gained a scholarship allowing her to attend the Nelson Thomlinson, Grammar School at Wigton, where the teacher responsible for art Mrs Campbell-Taylor recognised her ability and encouraged her to go to art college. At the age of 16 she enrolled at the Carlisle School of Art (1947-1949), then housed in Tullie House. She later described this experience as a dismal disaster. She explained: They said I would never make a painter and should do textile design. After rejecting their advice she enrolled at St. Martin's School of Art (1949-1951) where she studied under Roland Vivian Pitchforth and John Napper. She gained her National Diploma in Design at the age of 21, and then stayed on for a further twelve months to complete a post graduate course. Sheila augmented the grant received from Cumberland County Council by working in a Night Club and also the National Gallery. During her college years she exhibited her work in the Young Contemporaries Show in 1952 and 1953. After leaving college, she worked for a while as a freelance painter during the day, did head modelling, and worked in a cafe at night. Success came quickly, in 1966 at the age of 24, she held her first exhibition, becoming the youngest ever artist to exhibit at the Beaux Arts Gallery in Bond Street, London. In 1967, she was awarded an Arts Council Purchase Award. In 1969 she was elected Associate Member of the Royal Academy (A.R.A.) and a full membership (R.A.) five years later. Listings wanted.