Searching for information on an artist

Subject: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 04:43 PM

Hi everyone

Here's a challenge for all those closet Librarians out there!

Does anyone know ANYTHING about a British artist called Christopher Conrad Strafford Lewis. Born 1922 and died April 2005? I've drawn a complete blank so if anyone has any ideas this would gain me lots of brownie points at work.

A long shot I know but if anyone has access to Groves Dictionary of Art and Artists and could look this up I'd be really really grateful

Thanks

Sarah

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 08:32 PM

refresh
This seems to be a difficult one

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Peace
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 08:34 PM

Is it possible he changed his name, perhaps due to the C S Lewis name being somewhat popular??

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 06 - 11:26 PM

Some info from an article, from Groves, about a family of painters and printmakers which may be his relatives: Click Here.

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Matthew Edwards
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 05:45 AM

Sarah do you know any more about him? Such as what medium he worked in eg watercolours or oil, any associates or school, where he worked or exhibited.

If he died as recently as April 2005 surely the obituary columns of the national press would have mentioned him, or the specialist art magazines.

If you are a member of your local library in the UK you should be able to access Grove thanks to a new agreement between OUP and MLA Oxford Online

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 17 Mar 06 - 05:58 AM

Not much to go on. He was an old boy of Epsom College. Latterly lived in Herefordshire but was born in London. He's a painter and a sculptor and has left quite a lot of stuff that his widow now wants to pass on. I think the enquirer is trying to find out a bit about his work and whether he is famous or anything....it appears not BUT if something by him ends up on Antiques Road Show and sells for £1m in a couple of years time there will be egg on a few faces!!!

Only other fact I've found is his father JBS Lewis worked at Bethlem Royal (he was a doctor). We think our artist used the name Conrad Lewis but not 100% sure.

Groves drew a blank (except the bit katlaughing found which might well be relevant). Searched all the newspaper obits but nothing recorded. I suspect he might have had a line in the Telegraph Column in April 2005.

My gut feeling is he was probably an amateur and maybe he had another job too. The bit about "artist" was written in 1940s just after he got demobbed from the Royal Signals at the end of WW II.

But thanks SO much for looking guys. Mudcat never fails to amaze me!!!

Cheers

Sarah

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Apr 11 - 10:17 AM

Re Conrad Christopher Stafford Lewis "artist"
Have just noticed your thread
Conrad was my brother-in-law.
his widow is still alive and lives in Hertfordshire. If you still want information my telephone no 01308/425671

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 02:32 PM

Hello Sarah the Flute, I'm Conrad's daughter - if you are still looking for information, call me on 07930671376
My name is Prilly

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 02:52 PM

Sarah the Flute used to be a frequent poster here, but hasn't posted anything since 23-December-2010.

It's likely she has forgotten about this inquiry, and isn't expecting to get any further replies, since it was posted back in 2006.

I will send her a personal message (something only members can do) so that she will see it if she ever logs on again.

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: olddude
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 04:06 PM

Sarah
go on the web to the National Gallery of Art. There is a link for art questions. They have a staff of researchers, One is named Dr. Chris With ... They will give you a ton of info and it is all free. You don't have to be a US citizen ... They have info on every artist that was ever a pro or attended any school ... Amazing what they have given me. They will not appraise any artwork, only tell you about the artist.

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST,Joanna Pratt
Date: 07 Apr 11 - 06:02 PM

I know about Christopher Conrad Strafford Lewis. Born 1922 and died April 2005, known as Conrad Lewis.

During his life he produced paintings, ceramics, prints and sculpture alongside teaching at Chester School of Art.

Had memorial exhibition at at The Royal Cambrian Academy in Conwy in 2007.

A modest and committed artist who exhibited in Holland, London, Chester and North Wales
during his lifetime. Retired from teaching in 1982 and moved to hertfordshire where he resumed printmaking and painting fulltime until his health deteriorated in 2003.

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 15 May 11 - 05:13 PM

Hi everyone

Thanks so much for the replies - sorry not to have checked in recently - my mum has been unwell and I've been busy moving her into a nursing home and selling her flat. She is finenow aged 90 and wants to buy an ipad !!!

The query stems from when I worked at Epsom College but I havn't worked there for some time now . I think it stemmed from a bequest. I will pass the info on to the archivist there in case they are still interested and let you know if anything comes of it.

Many thanks

Sarah

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 May 11 - 01:17 AM

What a fascinating thread, and what a slow-burn satisfactory outcome. Doesn't it prove yet again that the Mills Of Mudcat might grind slow but they grind exceeding fine!

~Michael~

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: EBarnacle
Date: 16 May 11 - 03:19 PM

This may be another Conrad Lewis but he also did, among many other things, the cover for Abbie Hoffman's "Steal This Book."

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=artist+conrad+lewis&qpvt=artist+conrad+lewis&FORM=IGRE#x0y0

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute
Date: 17 May 11 - 02:20 PM

Oh that's interesting - I'll pass it on - havn't heard anything back yet from the College.

Sarah

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: katlaughing
Date: 17 May 11 - 03:22 PM

Indeed, MtheGM.

Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST,riverrat
Date: 12 Apr 13 - 06:33 PM

A Conrad Lewis taught at Chester School of Art in the late 1960's.
He was an interesting man ,definitely not an academic. He exhibited at The Royal Cambrian Academy in Conwy ,North Wales as a guest, not a member I believe.