Sidney Chambers: Featured Pencil Artist 4-7-10

Born in 1949 at Trottiscliffe, Kent, Sidney Chambers studied Graphic Design and life drawing at Maidstone College of Art (1965/66) whilst starting a career in Advertising. In 1967 Graham Sutherland, a family friend, started to give advise on painting and did so on a regular basis until his death in 1980.

Chambers’ first exhibition was a group show with West Malling local authority 1968. He worked in picture restoration in London 1969 and met Salvador Dali in Spain in 1970. In 1974 Sidney co-founded The Retigraphic Society and worked in screen printing and process photography. He also studied for a BA in Art History, participated in many exhibitions and completed many commissions/private sales.

“I do not have a profound philosophy to explain my work. I hope it stands on it’s own merit for what it is, an image that I have produced from information gathered, humour or pretentiousness is added later with the title. If it is appreciated by others that’s comforting, if it is disliked by others that’s sad, but not lethal.”

“For me being an artist is self indulgent, manual labour and to some degree therapy. If I couldn’t paint or draw I would go mad, I don’t know any Artist that feels differently to me, were all addicted to Art in some way and all a bit mad, some more than others.”

Sidney was awarded the Palm Award “Certificate of Excellence” at The Domain Gallery Leipzig, Germany, 2008. His website is: www.sidneychambers.com.