UPTON, Michael

Michael Upton (1938-2002) attended the College of Art, 1954–8, then the Royal Academy Schools, 1958–62. From 1971 he was a visiting tutor and external assessor in painting at various art colleges as well as being a teacher at Royal Academy Schools. Upton won the Leverhulme Scholarship there in 1960; the Abbey Scholarship (Rome Scholarship to Italy) in 1962; a Cassandra Foundation Award (William Copley), New York, in 1971; and 10 years later a South West Arts Major Award. Upton took part in many group shows, mainly in Britain. Had a solo show at Piccadilly Gallery in 1966 and one at Warehouse Gallery 10 years later. In 1980 he was the subject of the inaugural exhibition at Anne Berthoud Gallery, where he later showed on a number of occasions. He moved to Mousehole in Cornwall in 1990.

In 1987 a show arranged by Anne Berthoud toured in Britain, finally going to Yale Center for British Art, in America. Upton generally worked on a small scale, his precisely crafted, muted pictures being concerned with time and change. Arts Council, British Council and Government Art Collection hold examples. Had a studio in Mousehole, Cornwall. He died in Truro after a leg amputation. Henry Peacock Gallery and Badcock’s Galleries Ltd, Newlyn, held shows in 2004. His estate is represented by Messum’s.