Michael Finn (1921-2002)
Born: Surrey 7th July (his father was an architect)
From 1942 to 1946 after Michael Finn studied at Kinston School of Art, Finn joined the Royal Air Force where he trained as a pilot. After the war ended Finn went back to study at the Royal College of Art. Following this he took work teaching at Somerset College of Art before becoming principal at Falmouth School of Art and then later at Bath Academy of Art (Corsham). In 1982 he retired from teaching and moved with his wife Cely to Tregeseal House near St Just where he was able to paint full-time.
Education:
1946 - 49
Royal College of Art
1938 - 42
Kingston School of Art
Teaching:
1972 -82
Principal, Bath Academy of Art (Corsham)
1958 -72
Principal, Falmouth School of Art, Cornwall. Builds reputation of school nationally and meets many of the St Ives artists including Barbara Hepworth, Bryan Wynter, Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost and Denis Mitchell.
1949 - 58
Somerset College of Art, Taunton
Solo Exhibitions:
2010
Lemon Street Gallery, Truro, 'A Life in Art: Paintings and Sculptures 1946 - 2002
Lemon Street Gallery, Truro, 'Selected Paintings
Newlyn Art Gallery, major exhibition of paintings
Falmouth Art Gallery, major exhibition of sculptures
1996
'Now and Then', Davis Messum Fine Art, Cork Street, London
1994
Showcase, Royal Cornwall Museum, Truro
1993
David Messum Fine Art, Cork Street, London
1990 & 93
Wolf at the Door, Penzance
1989
Newlyn Orion Gallery with leaflet essay by John Halkes
1988
Wolf at The Door Gallery, Penzance
1987
Salthouse Gallery, St Ives
1978
Festival Gallery Bath (Paintings 1970 -78)
Group Exhibitions:
2016
Katherine House Gallery, Marlborough,'Michael Finn and Friends
Truro Cathedral, 'Waiting on God', paintings and sculpture
2008
Messum's, Cork Street, London 'Modern Painters of Cornwall
Northern Light Gallery, Huddersfield. Joint exhibition with Jeremy Le Grice
2000
Great Atlantic Maps Gallery, St Just
1998
Falmouth Art Gallery
1992-93Journeys', touring to Quickilver Place Gallery, Middlesex University, London and Lanchester Polytechnic Gallery, Coventry
1992from Cornwall', Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
1989-90Icons', touring to Mead Gallery, University of Warwick, Usher Gallery, Lincoln, Royal Albert Memorial Museum Exeter
1980s
Mixed Shows including Clarke Fine Art, Chiswick, Gordon Hepworth Gallery, Devon; Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter; Truro Cathedral; Newlyn Society of Artists at Newlyn Art Gallery and Penrith Society, St Ives
1960s
Showed regularly at Newlyn Art Gallery and with the Penrith Society in St Ives and at Plymouth City Art Gallery
1950s
Showed in annual exhibitions at the Royal West of England Academy, Bristol
Collections:
The Tate Gallery; Cornwall County Council Schools Collection; University College Falmouth; Blackfriars Oxford; Truro School Art Collection; Truro School Chapel; Church of Our Lady of the Portal, Truro; Truro Cathedral; Royal Cornwall Museum; Plymouth City Art Gallery; Falmouth Art Gallery. Private collections in the UK, Australia, Canada, Sweden and Switzerland