| Neil Lawson Baker | |
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Neil Lawson Baker – taken in 2007 |
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| Born | November 8, 1938 Watford, Hertfordshire, England, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Field | Painting, sculpture, photography |
| Training | Self taught |
| Movement | Contemporary |
Neil Lawson Baker (born 1938) is a British artist, sculptor and photographer.
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Neil attended the Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood, Middlesex as a day boy and then went on to Guy's Hospital in London where he qualified as a dental surgeon. Wishing to further his career he went on to study medicine and qualified as a doctor in 1969 at St George's Hospital at Hyde Park Corner in the heart of London's West End (the building is now the Lanesborough Hotel). Neil then went on to work at The 31Wilton Place Practice where he became senior partner and continued as a leading Dental Surgeon for a further 40 years specialising in high quality restorative dentistry. He also founded The Oral Hygiene Centre at No1 Devonshire Place in the heart of London's Harley Street area. This was the first truly preventive dental practice of it's type and helped to pioneer preventive dentistry. He retired from practice at the age of 70yrs ........what he called a career change ..... into the Art World!
His first artistic expression came while at school where he made a lot of pottery, little of which survives.
Neil used his medical and dentistry knowledge to fund his passion for art and travelled the world visiting galleries and acquiring much contemporary art for his home in London. He developed a keen eye and formed a great interest in the sculpture of Rodin and his school of followers.
His artistic passion was helped by meeting Adrien Maeght, the famous French art gallery and museum owner, who happened to be competing alongside Neil in the Paris – Nice vintage car rally in 1970 (Neil is a keen racer of vintage cars). Invitations to visit the Galerie Maeght in Rue du Bac in Paris and later the Fondation Maeght in Saint-Paul de Vence to see paintings, sculpture and lithography by Picasso, Miró, Léger, Calder, Arp and others, had a huge influence on what was to come.
After years of viewing and collecting, in 1987, during his recovery from a serious illness, Neil began to model sculptures as recuperative therapy. His surgeon's eye–hand skills were helped by a lesson from Kees Verkade, the well-known Dutch sculptor. Kees showed Neil how to model in wax. Neil soon found himself meeting Eric Gibbard at the Burleighfield Foundry who have done work for the Tate Gallery, Elizabeth Frink, Philip Jackson, and Oscar Nemon , indeed Eric cast every bronze of Barbara Hepworth's after 1952.
Eric became Neil's friend and mentor and took him to Paris to meet Charles Pinellis at the famous Susse-Fondeur in Arcueil. As a result he soon produced many bronze sculptures both in the UK and France and began selling to private collectors and then to corporate clients.
Many of his works can now be found in public places both in the UK and abroad. His sculptures may be seen in the entrance to the offices of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster; at British Gas Headquarters in Reading and Loughborough; in The London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange; near Albert Bridge at Sterling House on the River Thames; at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur; at Beirut University College in Lebanon and many other important sites.
Neil was also responsible for the sculpture unveiled by HM The Queen with President Mitterrand when they opened the Channel Tunnel in May 1994.
Late in 2003 Neil began to use colour and work on two dimensional pieces for the first time. His contemporary works of art are mostly abstract and vibrant and he is prolific in his output.
Neil uses Conté, watercolour and acrylic interchangeably. Many of the works are reminiscent of the art of the jazz musician (he was the lead saxophonist in his own swing band for some years, supporting more well-known bands) Neil moves his brush through the world of colour with great virtuosity. He paints as he played, with freedom and fluidity.
Since 2007, Neil has also been exploring the world of high resolution photography as a fine-art form producing a distinct style of work notably of Venice, Buenos Aires and London.
In 2006, Neil was appointed to the Board of The Arts Club in London and in 2007, Neil was appointed Chairman of the Trustees of the National Open Art Competition.
== Married to Grace Lawson Baker, a Speech and Language therapist, Lawson Baker presently lives in Sussex. His studio is in a barn at his home and he spends most of his time running The National Open Art Competition as Chairman of The Chichester Art Trust . ( A Registered Charity ). He also continues riding and driving his classic cars as well as pursuing his own personal artistic interests and travelling the world.