Michael Canney (1923-1999) - British Constructivist

A Modern British Constructivist, experimental with Abstract Art and Reliefs

Michael Canney was born in Falmouth and studied at Redruth and Penzance Schools of Art and St Ives School of Painting under Leonard Fuller and from 1947 to 1951, after army service at Goldsmiths College of Art.

He exhibited regularly in group exhibitions in Britain and abroad, His later one-man shows included Newly Art Gallery in 1983, Prescote Art and Design in Edinburgh in 1984 and the Belgrave Gallery in 1990, Plymouth Art Gallery and several other public collections hold examples of his work.

Canney was associated with the Newlyn and St Ives Schools both as a student and teacher.

In 1956 he was appointed curator of the Passmore Edwards Art Gallery, Newlyn. He later taught at Plymouth College of Art, UCLA Santa Barbara and the Royal West of England College of Art (later Bristol Polytechnic).

His circle of friends and acquaintances included Barbara Hepworth, Peter Lanyon, Roger Hilton, William Scott, Bryan Wynter, Albert Irvin, Sir Terry Frost and Patrick Heron.

A posthumous exhibition of oils, alkyds, and reliefs at the Fine Art Society in 2007 was received favourably, and since his death he has become the subject of increasing critical attention and acclaim.

Further information on this fascinating artist can be found at the very informative website www.michaelcanney.co.uk.

Credit: Art Biogs