Details

Provenance

With Sally Hunter Fine Art, London; a single-owner collection. Nancy Sharp was a painter and teacher whose career spanned much of the 20th century. Born in Truro, Cornwall, she studied at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, then at the Chelsea School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art (1928-1931), where she trained alongside artists such as Rodrigo Moynihan and William Coldstream, whom she later married. Sharp was a figurative painter working in the mainstream English realist tradition and her work was regularly exhibited with the London Group, and she contributed to wartime exhibitions such as the Civil Defence Artists’ show. During the Second World War, she served as an ambulance driver in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, showing remarkable bravery during the Blitz. After the war, she married Michael Spender, brother of poet Stephen Spender, and continued painting while raising a family and teaching art in London schools until 1977. Though she avoided self-promotion and had limited commercial success, Sharp remained active in the art world, exhibiting into her later years and participating in workshops at the Camden Institute. Her work is held in collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Government Art Collection, and Sir John Soane’s Museum

Catalog summary

Nancy Sharp ▲ Nancy Sharp (1909-2001) London Auxiliary Ambulance Driver signed and dated 'N. SHARP/'40' u.l., oil on canvas 31 x 29cm Provenance: With Sally Hunter Fine Art, London; a single-owner collection. Nancy Sharp was a painter and teacher whose career spanned much of the 20th century. Born in Truro, Cornwall, she studied at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, then at the Chelsea School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art (1928-1931), where she trained alongside artists such as Rodrigo Moynihan and William Coldstream, whom she later married. Sharp was a figurative painter working in the mainstream English realist tradition and her work was regularly exhibited with the London Group, and she contributed to wartime exhibitions such as the Civil Defence Artists’ show. During the Second World War, she served as an ambulance driver in the London Auxiliary Ambulance Service, showing remarkable bravery during the Blitz. After the war, she married Michael Spender, brother of poet Stephen Spender, and continued painting while raising a family and teaching art in London schools until 1977. Though she avoided self-promotion and had limited commercial success, Sharp remained active in the art world, exhibiting into her later years and participating in workshops at the Camden Institute. Her work is held in collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Government Art Collection, and Sir John Soane’s Museum. Condition Report: Framed: 38 x 35cm Appears to be in good order. There is some spotting to the reverse however the front of the work does not look to be affected. Not examined under UV light, for a full report please contact the department.