| 
|
| Norfolk Reedbeds No.1 |
1920 - 2004
An illustrator, printmaker and designer born Hampstead, London. The main subjects of his work throughout his career were images of boats, guardsmen in their long-plumed helmets, English cathedrals, rolling landscapes.
In 1940 he joined the Royal Artillery, aged 20 where he completed 6 years war service and took part in the D Day landings at Arromanches, Normandy. He was given the opportunity to study art with the Foundation College of the Rhine Army (1945-6).
Back in London post-war, he studied at Hornsey College of Art (1946-50). He graduated with the National Diploma in Design, specialising in lithography and also completed his Art teachers Diploma. He first taught at Temple School in Strood, and later at Medway College of Art in Rochester, commuting daily from Hampstead.
1953 – Moved to an old coach house at the foot of the Downs in Eastbourne, Sussex to take a post as head of printmaking at Eastbourne College of Art and Design, where he later became vice-principal. Tavener also taught at St Martins School of Art in London one day per week. Throughout his teaching career, he carried out many book illustrations and private commissions for corporate clients such as Shell, the BBC and London Transport.
1958- Was invited to illustrate the diary for the Kynoch Press, following in the footsteps of the highly influential Eric Ravilious, also from Eastbourne.
A member of the Royal Society of Engravers and Printers and the Society of Industrial Artists and a Senior Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter/Printmakers. He worked in a wide range of printmaking techniques including linocut, woodcut and lithography. Carried out each stage of the process himself using a 100 year old Albion press cast by Harrild and Sons of Fleet Street. His prints were limited to editions of between 15 and 75.
He wrote of his printmaking in 1975: “In the diverse and complex world of artists' prints, I have tried to keep three or perhaps four qualities paramount. These are design, colour, draughtsmanship, together with an awareness of the disciplines of autographic printmaking. A lithograph should not be a reproduction of anything else, but must exemplify the textures and qualities inherent in stone and plate; a block print should demonstrate by its "cutty" qualities the resistance of wood and lino to the gouge, the knife and the graver. It should not imitate drawing or painting, and the printed image is the Original”.
He showed for many years at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions. Over 2000 of his prints have been purchased for national collections in the UK and overseas, including the National Museum of Wales, Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, Victoria and Albert Museum, Yale University.
Despite outward success, Tavener suffered from continual self-doubt and would not easily accept praise for his work. He was a private man, highly academic with a sharp sense of humour.
Exhibitions Include:
Work held in over 25 UK public collections.