“Mt Clarence, Albany” by Guy Grey-Smith

This delightful oil painting of Albany is by the significant Western Australian artist, Guy Grey-Smith, and is one of the paintings donated by Claude Hotchin. Grey-Smith (1916 - 1981) served in the RAF in the Second World War, was shot down over Germany and spent several years in a POW camp. After the war he studied art in London, before returning to Western Australia in 1947. Grey-Smith introduced ideas of modern art to the conservative art scene. The influence of the French artist Paul Cezanne can be seen in this painting of an Albany scene, painted in 1951. Grey-Smith continued to refine his painting style and developed a refined abstract style. He is represented in State and national art collections. The carved frame of this painting is also note-worthy. It was made by another significant artist, Howard Taylor, who like Grey-Smith had served in the war and attended art school in London. Taylor and Grey-Smith both lived in Darlington in the 1950s and then both moved south in the 1970s, Taylor to Northcliffe and Grey-Smith to Pemberton.