REEVES, Denzil

1926 - 2008

Denzil John George Reeves was born at Hailsham, Sussex on 16 January 1926, son of Robert Reeves, a foreman at Polegate Railway Station, and his wife Elizabeth Ann Boniface (1891-1963), second daughter of George Boniface of 49 Station Road, Hailsham, who married at St Mary's Parish Church, Hailsham on 11 June 1921. After schooling Denzil, aged around 15, obtained a scholarship to Eastbourne School of Art where embroiderer Beryl Dean (1911-2001) encouraged him to continue with his art and calligraphy. In 1944, Denzil was conscripted into the army and went to Poona in India and then to Germany, leaving military service in 1947. He married at St Augustine's Catholic Church, Tunbridge Wells, Kent on 27 October 1951, Patricia Margaret Hurst and shortly afterwards obtained a position as a commercial artist for E. M. Mason, Cowdray Avenue, Colchester, when Denzil and his wife moved to Tally-Ho Crescent, Stratford St Mary, Suffolk. In 1954, he took a position at Colchester School of Art as a studio steward and where he commenced teaching printmaking under artist Anthony Atkinson. Denzil remained at Colchester School of Art until his retirement in 1984. During his time in Colchester, he continued working as an artist and calligrapher working on commissions such as 'The Golden Rose Book' an anniversary present to Sir Winston & Lady Churchill from his children; also working for the National Trust and several editions of the 'Guinness Book of Records', also appearing on television during the bicentenary of John Constable. Reeves produced the layout and calligraphy for a book entitled 'Raydon Airfield: Fighter Station to Farmland' by Graham Cross in 1991 and was much involved with the village life and the church at Raydon. An early member of the Suffolk Craft Society and Denzil John George Reeves continued his work up until his death at his home Church Corner, The Street, Raydon, Ipswich on 18 June 2008, aged 82, his wife died on 1 April 2016.

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Works by This Artist