Norman Hepple

Robert Norman Hepple RA RP (18 May 1908 – 3 January 1994) was an English portrait painter, engraver and sculptor, best known for his portraits of the British royal family.[1] He was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948 and served as their President from 1979 to 1983. Elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954, Hepple became an Academician in 1961.[2]

Norman Hepple
Born(1908-05-18)18 May 1908
London, England
Died3 January 1994(1994-01-03) (aged 85)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Education
Known forPainting, drawing

Early life

Hepple was born in London and was the son of the painter Robert Watkin Hepple and the nephew of Wilson Hepple, the animal painter from Northumbria. Hepple studied at Goldsmiths College of Art and then the Royal Academy Schools, under Sir Walter Russell, where he obtained a scholarship in engraving.[3][4] During the 1930s Hepple illustrated the books of the Shropshire novelist Mary Webb.[5]

World War II
Canadian Fireman, Overseas Contingent (1944) (Art.IWM ART LD 4721)

At the start of the Second World War Hepple joined the Auxiliary Fire Service, which in 1941 became the National Fire Service, NFS, and served as a fire-fighter during the London Blitz. A number of other artists had joined the NFS and a firemen artists' committee had been formed which included Leonard Rosoman, Bernard Hailstone, Paul Lucien Dessau and Robert Coram. As well as contributing to both War Artists' Advisory Committee, WAAC, and specialist civil defence art shows, the firemen held several of their own exhibitions. WAAC initially purchased two paintings by Hepple, one in 1940 and another in 1941. In 1943 WAAC commissioned a series of drawings from Hepple of NFS personnel and were to purchase another five paintings, including a fine portrait of a Canadian fire-fighter, from him before the war ended.[6] At least one painting by Hepple was included in the firemen artists exhibitions that toured America during the war.[7]

Post-war career

After the war Hepple resumed his career as a professional artist. In 1950 he designed a poster for British Railways, Service to Industry and Shipbuilding.[8] He painted portraits of Queen Elizabeth II on three occasions;- in 1965 for the Royal Marines, in 1978 for the island of Jersey and also in 1978 for the submarine officers of HMS Dolphin.[8] He painted notable portraits of Prince Charles, Prince Philip and of the Queen Mother, who sat for him for four separate commissions.[8] His 1978 portrait of Queen Elizabeth was adapted for use on banknotes issued in Jersey.[4] Hepple was elected a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters in 1948[9] and served as their President from 1979 to 1983. The New English Art Club elected Hepple as a member in 1950.[9] He was elected as an Associate Member to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1954, and became a full Academician in 1961.[2] Failing eyesight eventually curtailed his painting career. He died from injuries he received after being run over by a car whilst returning to his home in Richmond in London from a meeting at the Royal Academy.[10]

References
  1. "Obituaries:Norman Hepple, Portrait Painter,85". The New York Times. 17 January 1994. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  2. David Buckman (1998). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0 95326 095 X.
  3. Frances Spalding (1990). 20th Century Painters and Sculptors. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1 85149 106 6.
  4. "Norman Hepple". Benezit Dictionary of British Graphic Artists and Illustrators, Volume 1 (OUP). 2012. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  5. Alan Horne (1994). The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1 85149 108 2.
  6. Imperial War Museum. "War Artists archive, Norman Hepple". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  7. Imperial War Museum. "Exhibition by London Fire Brigade in USA". Imperial War Museum. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
  8. Benezit Dictionary of Artists Volume 6 Gemignani-Herring. Editions Grund, Paris. 2006. ISBN 2 7000 3076 1.
  9. Grant M. Waters (1975). Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900-1950. Eastbourne Fine Art.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  10. John Ward (15 January 1994). "Obituary:Norman Hepple". The Independent. Retrieved 14 January 2014.
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