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Christopher Cavania Sanders RA RP ARCA

25th December 1905- 8th August 1991

A 20th Century illustrator and painter. In 1931 he married the artist Barbara Stubbs ARCA, whom he met at The Royal College of Art. They had two sons and two daughters.

Biography

Sanders was born on a small holding in a Yorkshire mining village.

Education: Ossett Grammar School Wakefield School of Art 1922-1924 Leeds School of Art 1924-1926 The Royal College of Art 1926-1929

On leaving college, Sanders worked as an illustrator for several companies including Eastmans and Birds Eye, where he designed the little chickens on their Bird's Custard label. He also illustrated many children's books for James Nisbet & Co. However, his early training in drawing and his understanding of structure led him more to oil painting.

In 1933 at the age of 28 his first painting, The Old Barn No.864, was exhibited at The Royal Academy. Apart from 1939 and 1942, he exhibited at The Royal Academy every year until his death in 1991. His paintings were traditional and not innovative. They reflected his gentle love of nature. He would often paint many canvases at the same time moving quickly from one to another, building up his compositions with fast flicks of his brush. His favourite subjects were French landscapes and flower paintings. Sanders travelled with his canvases and easel across France, Spain, Italy, Holland and Yugoslavia. His painting, "The Heart of Dubrovnik" was the celebrity choice at the 1979 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition.

During the 1960's and after the death of his wife in 1969, Sanders' paintings became sober and dark with Greys. Later he developed a more vibrant colour and his paintings reflected the influence of the pre-Raphaelites. In the 1970's he painted a series of large poppy paintings followed by views of the river Test in Hampshire. These were amongst his most popular works.

Exhibitions

Sanders was an independent and idiosyncratic Yorkshire man. He exhibited his paintings at many provincial galleries including David Messam, St Peters Winchester, Brothertons, John Leigh Studio and Ash Barn, Petersfield.

Major Exhibitions

Fine Art Society 1956 Worthing Art Gallery 1965 Van Der Straeten Gallery, Madison Avenue New York 1969 Eric Gallery 57th Street New York 1972