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1901 - 1988
Painter, writer and diplomat. Born in Winchester, Hampshire, he was educated at Harrow (where he won the Art Prize at the age of 9) and had two paintings hung in the Royal Academy whilst still an undergraduate at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he read for a Degree in Modern Languages. He made several study visits to Germany where he developed his love of art by sketching and by visiting galleries and museums. These adventures developed a terrific love of both travel and mountain climbing. After graduation in 1925 he joined the Diplomatic Service. His various postings and holidays took him to many European countries as well as the Middle East, South Africa, Canada, South America and Kashmir - all producing inspiration and opportunities for sketching trips. In 1932 he took 6 months unpaid leave to act as interpreter to a Royal Geographical Society expedition to the Peruvian Andes led by Professor Gregory. This arduous expedition ended in tragedy when, negotiating swirling rapids in a rocky gorge of the Urubamba river, their canoes capsized and Professor Gregory was drowned. Victor’s sketches, wrapped in waterproof containers, survived. He later donated them to the Royal Geographical Society.
1946 – retired from the Diplomatic Service to concentrate on painting and writing
1957 - Published ‘An Artist Among Mountains’ an autobiographical book.
Wrote and illustrated articles for ‘The Sphere’ magazine, producing over 600 monochrome drawings for the publication. This led him to illustrate four books for children, all set in the Amazonian countryside.
1965 – Victor and his wife Mary moved to Cirencester where the Cotswolds provided idyllic subjects for his sketching.
1978 – Published ‘Cotswold Keepsakes’ - a book of his drawings of Cotswold villages and was commissioned to paint 70 pictures of individual houses.
Exhibitions Include:
16 one-man exhibitions in various parts of the world including London, Ottawa and Mexico City; The Royal Academy; Royal Institute; VA; Fine Art Society; The Alpine Club