Primarily, Derek studied painting, drawing and sculpture, at the Central, but he also signed up for fashion design, for this gave him extra opportunity to draw from the life model. Amongst the college staff at this time, were a number of excellent tutors including William Roberts and Bernard Meninsky, who taught drawing, while Leslie Cole and Keith Vaughan lectured on colour and painting. Frank Dobson was Derek’s personal tutor and mentor and took the sculpture lesson.
It was here that Derek’s fondness for exploring spaces, through the balance of negative and positive shapes became evident. This is a theme, that will emerge time and again throughout his career.
Abstract Stoneware Cut-out.
17 x 16 x 9cm
Fired to 1320º in the Sump oil kiln, this experimental piece, is so simple. A vertical slab of clay mounted on a simple base, the upright cut to form abstract shapes, allowing the light to conjure up faces and leaves, as it plays amongst the solids and voids. Sadly, few if any remain other than this.
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