Directors' Choice: 2-30 July

Artists from 50 years of Curwen & New Academy

Private View Wed 01 July 6-8pm

DIANA ARMFILED RA, BARRY ATHERTON, PATRICK BARKER, JO BARRY, CLARE BIGGER, KENNETH BLACKBURN, CLIVE BLACKMORE, NAOMI BLAKE, JOHN BROKENSHIRE, CARRIE BULLOCK, MAGGIE BURLEY, MARK CAZALET, ROGER CECIL, CLARE CHINNERY, SINÉID CODD, JANE CORSELLIS, PHOBE DINGWALL, RUSSELL DOREY, PETER DOVER, EMMA DUNBAR, BERNARD DUNSTAN RA, ANTHONY EYTON RA, CHLOË FREMANTLE, JONATHAN GIBBS, MARK GODWIN, FREDERICK GORE RA, ANTHONY GREEN RA, JAMIE GUTCH, DONALD HAMILTON FRASER RA, BRENDAN HANSBRO, BRENDA HARTILL, SUSAN-JAYNE HOCKING, SARAH HOLLIDAY, KATHARINE HOLMES, JOHN HOYLAND RA, ALBERT IRVIN RA, STANLEY JONES CBE, THIRZA KOTZEN, JOHN LEACH, ANDREW MACARA, PADRAIG MACMIADHACHAIN, ANITA MANDL, ALISON NEVILLE, MICHÈLE NOACH, YUJI OKI, ROB OLINS, SUSIE PERRING, DAVID POOLE, BILL PRYDE, DAVID RHYS JONES, ROBIN RICHMOND, MAUREEN RIPLEY, SOPHIA RIZVI, KEITH ROBERTS, LEONARD ROSOMAN RA, ZOË RUBENS, PAUL RYAN, WILLIAMS-SUGGITT, JOHANNES VON STUMM, RICHARD WALKER, HENRY WALSH, PETER WARDLE, LUCY WILLIS, ALBANY WISEMAN

THE DIRECTORS: JOHN & JILL HUTCHINGS

John was born on the 6^th November, 1928, in Surbiton, Surrey. After school and 2 years serving in the Royal Artillery, John went to St Peters College in Oxford to study Philosophy, Politics & Economics. Following his education John trained as an accountant in London.

Jill was born on the 8^th June 1937, in Cardiff, Wales. She trained as a nurse at the Middlesex Hospital, London. In 1957, Jill met John on a train in Spain. They were subsequently married in 1959. They are proud parents to 3 daughters and have 10 grandchildren.

During the 60’s, John joined the Curwen Press as a financial adviser, later becoming the Chairman. At that time the Curwen Press included Curwen Gallery and Print Studio. By the early 80’s the Curwen Press was being taken over by a larger company and foreseeing the closure of the gallery and print studio, John and Jill purchased both companies.

In 1978 Stephen Reiss, also of Curwen, together with John made a proposal to Sir Hugh Casson, then president of the Royal Academy, to form a new company to concentrate on providing art for business. The company was formed on a 50/50 basis by the RA and Curwen, and was to be housed in the Upstairs Gallery at the RA with John as Managing Director. It was in fact the first business art consultancy in London.

During 1987, when the Sackler Galleries were being built in the Royal Academy, Business Art Galleries became an independent company and relocated to No.34 Windmill Street, establishing the New Academy Gallery as its permanent home. This move brought BAG into the same street as the Curwen Gallery, aiding the working relationship between the companies. Jill had been combining her career in nursing with her interests in the Curwen & BAG for many years, but in 1987, she left nursing to work full time as a director for the company.

At the beginning of 2005 the Curwen Gallery, Business Art Galleries and the New Academy Gallery were all brought under one roof at No.34. To celebrate this episode in the company’s story, and to incorporate the history behind both companies, the gallery was renamed Curwen & New Academy. As further reference to this union a new logo was designed by Brendan Hansbro. Inspired by an original Curwen Unicorn print by Eric Gill, the two rearing unicorns symbolise the joining together of the two establishments.

Originally this exhibition was arranged to celebrate the 50 years of Jill & John’s marriage but sadly, shortly after making the final selection for this exhibition, John Hutchings died on 3^rd February 2009.

John was a wonderful man and he will be greatly missed. Jill remains as the company Director, maintaining that the gallery and this exhibition stand as a celebration of John’s life.