Continuing our series of the other lives of the attendants at Dulwich Picture Gallery
Bob Cox is a talented artist.
by Bob Cox
“I think it was about the age of ten I decided that a new hobby was required apart from collecting stamps, matchbox tops, cigarette cards, soldiers and a touch of model making. Something more creative, so I started sketching. In a lumbered, cumbersome way at first but as time post some improvements became noticed. The last day at school before the ‘careers advisor’, when asked what vocation I’d like, my response was instant – ‘Drawing for a living’. It was the only subject I excelled at because I enjoyed it most of all.
Four years at a south London art College followed. Amongst illustrious luminaries tutoring were Bridget Riley, Charles Keeping and an impressive long haired chap called Barry Fantoni. After this higher education, with a fairly sound portfolio under my arm, I secured a job with a London advertising agency at my first interview as a general artist. I learnt more in my first year than four years of academic study, you just cant beat practical experience.
As a novice working in the city opposite the Sunday Times building, I was rubbing shoulders at lunchtimes in the pub with people like Roger Law (puppetry), Alan Aldridge (Peacock’s Ball fame) and Anthony Armstrong-Jones (a photographer with royal connections). I could see light at the end of the tunnel.
Working for smaller agencies, I built up a reputation for versatility. All my design work contained an illustration of some kind within, so as to create a drawing commission; there were plenty of graphic designers out selling their wares to the print trade, but surprisingly, many without drawing skills (another source for drawing work).
Roberto, the Gallery story teller
I kept files on everything and everyone – Bernie Fuchs (USA, taught me how to use acrylics for story work) Peter Sainsbury (water colour and painting architecture, I was receiving quite a lot of estate agent work) Herb Lubalin (USA, showed the way with expansive creative typography. Peter Max (astonishingly vibrant graphic poster design – it was the swinging sixties which I DO remember) and not forgetting Paul Davis (USA for surreal illustration). The rest just followed naturally eg. Maps, diagrams, cartoons, montages, packaging and story illustration. Bob Dylan gave me lateral thinking and Miles Davis kept things ‘cool’ to cope with ever imminent deadlines.
Without the mystery of imagination and where it comes from, nothing would end up on paper and eventually print. As the USA produced the excitement of rock and roll in the 1950s, it did the same in the 1960s with stimulating graphics and literature – namely people like Salinger, Kerouac, Steinbeck and many more.
Colour printing was coming to the fore, so more imaginative graphics were in demand to accommodate the upsurge of paper magazine supplements and promotional advertising. The past Steinberg exhibition is a prime example of these classic upsurge of graphics, his work is not just cartooning but dream like visuals that have an intellectual context of their own (Not a cartoonist – a visionary!).
Applemacs are amazingly convenient for commerce, speed etc but give me an HB pencil, dipping pen, a tincture in my hand and the ability to draught an image any day.”
The other life of:
Gareth Cadwallader
Lynne McAdam
Nickie Pickering
16 Comments
I’m really glad I strayed onto your terrific website and found the great article on the artist Bob Cox. Although I now live in the Forest of Dean (where every second person seems to be an artist of some kind) I used to live in Dulwich. Anyway, circa 1990 I bought a Bob Cox paintig in a shop in Crystal palace entitled “Who’s Generation? (1985)” with Pete Townshend, on Brighton Pier, as it’s subject. If you see Mr Cox, you might want to let him know it still has pride of place in my home and is one of my most treasured possessions. It has given a huge amount of pleasure to myself and my many friends and visitors. Warmest Regards, Chris Dunn
What a nice comment, Chris. Dulwich OnView will pass on your message to Bob Cox.
Weird day, today. I made a mention of the cartoonist Jay Lynch in my blog and he emailed me. Got me thinking about our mutual friend Skip Williamson. Skip was best man at my wedding.
Checked out Skip’s blog and reading the comments on Skip’s time at the ice plant came across the one Bob put in concerning my smuggling him across the Mississippi after Bob’s “Moonshot Heard Around the World.” Damn, I hadn’t thought about that in over 40 years!
Would appreciate it if you’d pass this along to Bob.
Thanks
Richard (the old salt)
Was a boat captain for nearly 20 years.
We will certainly pass your message on to Bob and hope he will explain your references further!
Hi there,
I currently have a fantastic architecture piece of art in water colour by peter sainsbury.
It really is beautiful yet i can’t find any information on this painter ?
please could you help ??
Kind regards Paul G
have you found any info on peter sainsbury.
i purchased a striking watercolour of belper shopping centre by him and would like to know more about him and his work.
thank you
I had bought a few prints of baseball greats back in the 80`s from an artist named Bob Cox and was wondering if this is the same Bob Cox.I live in Columbia, SC USA.
Thank you for your time.
Joe Moore
I worked for Peter Sainsbury from 1965 to 1969 as his assistant in London, I left to work in australia in 1972. He was a lovely man to work for.
I returned to the UK in 1975 with a full portfolio to show him only to find that he had died prior to my arrival. With his wife’s blessing I took over his pracice in that year.
The requirment for drawings or artwork was incredibly demanding and with that your life is not your own, your under great pressure and the quality of artwork can suffer, he went through this and so did I.
I returned to australia in 1981 and practiced as an architectual perspective artist till 2000.
Then came the computer illustration.
Regards
Martin Johncock
I work for MidKent College and we have just discovered a painting of our Oakwood Park Campus in Maidstone dated 1963 by Peter Sainsbury. I would love some more information on the artist.
hello Jane , I going through the throws of starting a website so in doing so I am uncovering everything that I have written on the Web and I notice your interest of Peter Sainsbury , I was his apprentice from 65 to 69, If you ever uncover this little email try ‘archvis2@bigpond.com’ I might be there
Kind Regards Martin
Hi – stumbled on reference to Peter Sainsbury and very interested to hear more. He drew / painted at least a couple of schools my father designed in the mid sixties when working at Broadbent architects and I’m lucky to have a good copy of one of them and a poor photocopy of another (which I’d like a good copy of….I contacted the school in Fareham but they didn’t knowingly have the original). Extremely nice drawings / watercolours!
May I congratulate you for Bob’s exhibition. As soon as I saw Frank Sinatra I knew if was his work. I still have a number of his works taking pride of place, wherever I move. He is still deep in my heart. Please let me know if you plan any further exhibitions, as I would like to see more of his newer work.
Hi Just trying to track down Bob Cox. He was a brilliant artist and I have a couple of his pics and even was in one! It looks like his work…
Sue
Bob moved to the Isle of White when he left Dulwich Picture Gallery. I have his home address. He never went in for email. I could ask him if it was OK for you to contact him if you want.
Yes please Ingrid – re: his address. Let him know that Maria also wish to be in touch with him. Thanks
Ask him if he used to live in Winslow. That way I will know if it is the same Bob Cox. Thanks Sue