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Searching for information on an artist

16 Mar 06 - 04:43 PM (#1695507)
Subject: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute

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


16 Mar 06 - 08:32 PM (#1695688)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: greg stephens

refresh
This seems to be a difficult one


16 Mar 06 - 08:34 PM (#1695691)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Peace

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


16 Mar 06 - 11:26 PM (#1695801)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: katlaughing

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


17 Mar 06 - 05:45 AM (#1695937)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Matthew Edwards

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


17 Mar 06 - 05:58 AM (#1695941)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute

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


02 Apr 11 - 10:17 AM (#3126913)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST

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


07 Apr 11 - 02:32 PM (#3130723)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST

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


07 Apr 11 - 02:52 PM (#3130734)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Jim Dixon

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.


07 Apr 11 - 04:06 PM (#3130784)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: olddude

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.


07 Apr 11 - 06:02 PM (#3130867)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST,Joanna Pratt

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.


15 May 11 - 05:13 PM (#3154651)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute

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


16 May 11 - 01:17 AM (#3154833)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: MGM·Lion

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~


16 May 11 - 03:19 PM (#3155284)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: EBarnacle

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


17 May 11 - 02:20 PM (#3155825)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: Sarah the flute

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

Sarah


17 May 11 - 03:22 PM (#3155864)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: katlaughing

Indeed, MtheGM.


12 Apr 13 - 06:33 PM (#3502482)
Subject: RE: Searching for information on an artist
From: GUEST,riverrat

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.