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KW Padley FBIPP, FRPS, FRSA. Naturalist, Photographer and Wildlife Artist. A close-up perspective of his life and works, by Clare Hale
Original price was: £25.00.£22.50Current price is: £22.50.
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contact@kennethpadleyart.com or telephone 07814951862
Dr Lis McCullough –
Review:
K.W.Padley … A close up perspective of his life and works
Clare Hale
This is one of those serendipitous books that, as with some TV or radio programmes, one comes across by chance; is drawn into almost despite oneself; and then enjoys all the more for being so unexpected.
As indicated by the title, the underlying framework of the book is provided by the life history of the artist Kenneth William Padley, the father of the author. This, in itself, is fascinating, especially given the many wonderful illustrations demonstrating ‘the relationship between the man and his artworks’ (1) as well the artist’s industry and developing interests over the years. However, this is much more than a biography, interweaving as it does aspects of family and social history as well as wide-ranging information concerning art and wildlife alongside technical details relating to photography and painting.
The book follows a broadly chronological order, tracing Ken Padley’s life from his birth in Lincolnshire in 1926, through his time as an art student and into his early career as a graphic designer before becoming head of the photography department and Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Loughborough College of Art and Design. It is copiously illustrated by photographs of the artist and others, and of his art work. Those of the latter show how his love of the natural world and his mastery of various media were well-established early on. In art, he considered it vital to go beyond an accurate portrayal of the subject to the essence of both the subject and of the artist’s response. As he himself wrote, ‘The imaginative eye knows more than the eye and the lens can see.’ As his daughter comments, ‘For Ken, his photographs and paintings were not just about what he observed but about what he felt about the subject he saw’ (4). I was particularly drawn to the delicacy and detail in his pencil sketches. His artistic skill was recognised both commercially and by his peers as he won many awards and was elected to various positions in increasingly prestigious societies, including membership of the Zoological Photographic Club. He met both Sir Peter Scott and Sir David Attenborough.
Despite being written by the artist’s daughter, this book is no hagiography, but rather a clear-eyed and well-researched exposition by one ideally and uniquely placed to describe her subject. Although Ken was obviously devoted to his family, and they to him, the author does not ignore the downside of her father’s perfectionism as an artist and of the stresses of his working life, which led eventually to his taking early retirement in 1983, although that in no way seemed to restrict his artistic output in the following decades until his death in 2006.
Production values are high (apart from a couple of text misplacements) and it is easy to read, even in the more technical sections. Although hard to categorise – being neither a straightforward biography, nor solely about wildlife, or photography or painting – for me as a generalist reader it was the hybrid nature of the contents that made it so appealing. Yet there is enough in each of the components to satisfy those with a particular specialist interest.
Dr Lis McCullough
Past Chair of the National Association of Music Educators
One time Book Review Editor for Music Education Research
Linda Waite –
“….It was so fascinating and interesting to read…..The book is a really comprehensive look at the life and works of a super talented artist and photographer and is a great way of keeping this information together.”
A Pritchard –
“What a beautiful book! A total delight – recommended for oneself or a special present”.
Diana de Gruyther –
“…a wonderful tribute, record and celebration of your father’s fine work….”
Ruth Sheeran –
“What a lovely tribute to your dad, you have certainly done him proud. It is a perfect mix of his story and his work and is a really lovely memory of a great man”.
Malcolm Laughton. Leicester & Leicestershire Photographic Society –
“I am so pleased to see that you have succeeded in your mission to catalogue and indeed immortalize Ken’s work”.
John Chandler. Book designer. Chandler Design Associates Ltd –
“The artwork is superb…I am very much enjoying working on this book.”
Alison Barker. Proof reader –
“It was an absolute pleasure working on your book. Your father was a remarkable artist and your love and pride for him shine through”.