George Chapman. Essay "A Personal Look" by N Chapman

George spent much of his early years after training as a graphic designer teaching. He wasn't allowed into the services due to his deafness and ended up a lecturer teaching at a school during the second world war. The headmaster was so impressed by Georges artistic talents that he allowed him to spend as much time as he liked painting, even taking his class sometimes and saying “its OK George you go home and paint I'll look after the class”. Things were very different due to the war but a great job to get! As a freelance designer he became well established working with some of the elite of the day. Jack Beddington, Graham Sutherland, John Nash, and John Piper, working for Shell, BP, London Transport, and The Post Office.
In the late sixties while working for the Post Office, a man would arrive with a suit case full of fiver's. George would have to sign for it all. He would joke around as to the ownership of the said monies, it seemed like all the money in the world at the time. George has left a large body of work in this field. He also placed himself through art school with his graphic work eventually becoming a member of the Royal Academy. He never gave it up and worked both as a freelancer and part time lecturer all his life.
As an artist his influences at this time were Sickert, Raualt, and Turner. He would paint in there style producing a number of works there are some that survive from this period, due thank god to friends rescuing them from his dustbin or from the fire.
He wasn't involved in any shows just painting for himself experimenting with style and content. A couple of old friends, Prof Aleck & Margaret Potter were avid collectors and a number of scenes of Islington are among those that survive. There is also a sketch book which is full of portraits of local people from in and around Islington again rescued by an ex student Brian