Tony Giles

Available for sale from Big Sky Fine Art in the English county of Dorset, this original oil painting is by the Cornish artist Tony Giles and dates from around 1965.<br> The painting is presented and supplied in its original wood frame (which is shown in these photographs).<br> The painted surface has benefitted from cleaning, restoration and conservation, which was performed on our instruction, supervision and approval. <br> This vintage painting is in very good condition, commensurate with its age. It wants for nothing and is supplied ready to hang and display.<br> The painting is signed lower right.<br> Provenance: From the personal collection of Ann (1946 - 2000) and Jonathan Grimble (1942 - 2021). Gallerist and art dealer working in St Ives and Marazion, Cornwall.<br> <br> Known as a powerful and prolific Cornish artist, Tony Giles was born in a terraced railway cottage close the railway yards in Taunton, Somerset. His father was an engine driver for the Great Western Railway and Tony’s first trips to Cornwall were travelling free in the leading carriage of the London train which his father drove from Taunton to Penzance. Thus began his love of the West Country and a life-long association with Cornwall.<br> <br> His favourite subject at school (Huish’s) was art. In 1941 he was apprenticed as a cartographic draughtsman to the Admiralty Hydrographic Department. He did his national service with the Royal Marines, charting the seas around Ceylon, now Sri Lanka. He then continued to work as a draughtsman for the Admiralty until 1945. In 1961 he achieved his ambition of living in Cornwall, and joined the planning department at County Hall, Truro, from which he retired in 1981. <br> <br> Giles taught himself to paint and began to make a reputation after settling in Cornwall in 1961. His favourite themes included railways and landscapes; his figure paintings are relatively rare. He was a member of the Penwith Society of Arts. His first solo exhibition was held at Penwith Gallery in 1962. Others include one at Park Gallery, Cheltenham in 1988. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy. In 1971 Giles won the English China Clay competition Art in Industry. The Penlee House Gallery staged an exhibition of his West Cornwall works in 2021.<br> <br> Today his work is represented in the Stoke-on-Trent Museum and Art Gallery and the Birmingham Art Gallery. <br> <br> © Big Sky Fine Art<br> <br> This original painting by Tony Giles is created in oils and mixed media on board. It depicts a naked female figure with distinctive long blonde hair. The ends of her hair are tipped up in a style that became prevalent in the 1960s. The figure is almost faceless and is looking to the side, past the viewer. This is about an almost abstract form and style, rather than the identity of an individual. The palette is a mix of black, bright blues and yellows, and the application of the paint is heavy, with confident strong strokes, contrasting with the delicate deliberate little dribbles of paint in certain areas, almost belying the skill of the artist. Overall, this is a strong impactful piece.<br> <br> The provenance of this painting includes it being part of an incredibly impressive collection that was put together by Jonathan and Ann Grimble. Jonathan was well known in Cornwall as an art dealer and collector. Grimble ran the Market House Gallery in Marazion for some years and brought many modern and contemporary artists to further prominence. He later ran the Porthminster Gallery and Westcotts Gallery in St. Ives and was an agent for the executors of Sandra Blow’s estate.<br> Grimble’s own art collection featured artists such as Sandra Blow, Terry Frost, Alexander Mackenzie, Paul Feiler, Wilhelmina Barns-Graham, Fred Yates, Jack Pender, Trev Bell, Paul Mount, John Milne, Denis Mitchell, Peter Lanyon and, of course, Tony Giles.