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Donald Blake was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire in
Scotland on 7th June 1908. At the age of two his parents
moved to London. At the age of 13 he attended the
Camberwell School of Arts and Craft. His father funded
these studies for 18 months and at the age of 15 he
went into a building trade drawing office where he
was engaged as an architectural draftsman. During
that time he studied 3 nights a week for 10 years
at Goldsmiths College and Brixton School of Building.
He eventually became the head of this drawing office.He
worked on Swimming baths, Pub fronts and Cinemas.
In World War II he worked for the Ministry of Information
as a War Artist producing propaganda subjects.He worked
for the Daily Express producing War Maps and Battle
Impressions as well as freelancing in other areas.
At some point he designed carriage prints for the
London and North-Eastern Railway (LNER), including
images of Suffolk and Yorkshire. In the 1960's he
gave up working to became a full time painter. Elected
RI, RSMA, NEAC and became President of the Wapping
Group of Artists. He was a Member of the London Sketch
Club and Chelsea Arts Club. He exhibited at the Royal
Academy and principal London Exhibitions. His work
has been the subject of special exhibitions in Los
Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Rome. In 1971
he was given much critical acclaim as part of British
Art during British Week in Hamburg. In 1981 he was
the winner of the FBA Hunting Group £5000 prize
for the best watercolour of the year, depicting a
stormy harbour scene.He was fascinated by boats although
a bad sailor. He was a member of, and eventually the
President of the "Wapping Group" - 25 artists
devoted to the River Thames. He died in 1997.
Information taken from: Mostly, an e-mail
from Martyn Pearson; also Prorail.uk, 'Prorail - Sheffield
Auctions', http://www.prorail.co.uk/auctions/sra/sra0303b.htm,
accessed October 03 2003
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