Time at the Royal Academy

Ken entered the academy in 1950 and received his academy award in 1954.   In 1958 His first commissioned painting was hung in the RA summer exhibition alongside his tutor Peter Greenham.

Ken's tutors

Henry Rushbury R.A. was Keeper (head) of the Schools during this period. Ken had various instructors: For painting and drawing he had W Dring ARA, B Fleetwood Walker ARA and Peter Greenham ARA; For Chemistry of Colour he had  Prof Harold James Plenderleith and for Anatomy he had Prof James Dixon Boyd.  He was also taught by Professor Gerald Kelly and Professor Richardson, who taught architecture. The schools were administered on a day to day basis by Mr Charles Genge who was a landscape painter. They were run on a conservative basis with little change from the 19th century approach. This was based on the development of an academic technique with the core being compulsory Life Drawing for all 

Little is known about Ken's time at the academy.  He was, like the others attending, given a 6th month probation period where he had to prove himself and keep up with the training.   It was quite an arduous ordeal as he had to spend several hours a day drawing and painting .   Ken did feel intimidated when he started at the R.A.as he was the only one at the academy who had not been through the many years of training the others had had.  It is known however that when he was in the second year a competition was held for all the students to develop the best foreground in a painting.  Ken won the competition.  Ken kept in touch with Peter Greenham for many years.