Born 1st January 1938 Bedford:Moved to London (Chelsea) 1947 and have lived there for all but 12 years (Aylesbury/Leighton Buzzard area) since. Resident in Wimbledon area since 1987. Educated: A bit.
Very little ‘formal’ art training, but life has been a constant learning. I have been fortunate in having good brains to pick and I have a wealth of technique thanks to friends to whom I have informally apprenticed myself.Career: Chequered – Copious painting in 1955, mostly sold in Chelsea streets.
Following a short visit to St Martins I did 3 years in the Army (Paras & Infantry) 1956 to 1959. No Art produced except sketches and a book jacket design. – Distractions: mountaineering and jazz1959-1962 travelling and climbing. Dayjobs: forestry, plywood making, signwriting, climbing guide.
1964 Invited to join N London association of experimental artists Group H. Participated in shows in libraries, at festivals, New End Gallery Hampstead, Drian Gallery and the legendary Better Books. Other Group H exhibitors (or exhibitionists) included Jeff Nuttall, Bruce Lacey, John Latham, Barry Flanagan and many other well known names.1970 -1980 The dead art years except for ceramics and props and stagesets for bands.
Distractions: mountaineering and rock music. Dayjobs: computing.carpentry.
Distractions: – more rock climbing Dayjobs: car repairs/spraying, signwriting.
Distractions: Climbing, managing bands. Dayjobs: various – building, roofing, decorating, salesman, ceramics teacher.1967-1970 occasional member of performance art group The People Show, designed sets costumes and did technical stuff as well as performing. Played in and later managed various rock bands. Took up photography and ceramics. Taught ceramics at Barnet College. Produced posters.
Early 80s: stage sets, costumes for pro-am groups. Art direction:and running stage technical and design workshops in Aylesbury. Recommenced painting inspired by rockclimbing exploration trips to Jordan. Shown at Bradwell Campus Milton Keynes, Alcazaar Hotel Aqaba and combined with new sculpture at Queens Park Centre Aylesbury and Pendley Manor Tring.
Since 1987 I have lived in Wimbledon with my second wife Annie Folkard, a sometime textile artist and keen photographer, and for the last 22 years also with our daughter Billie who is trying to break into photography.
I divided my working time between working in the music biz as a royalties and touring consultant, and MAKING ART until 2002, when I gave up the former and was at last free to concentrate on the latter. I am still distracted by music however as I now play several saxophones. I suppose that having no other occupation I can now call myself a sculptor!
However, I now find myself dabbling with paint and ceramics again.
Al Baker February 2015