William Peascod
William Peascod (3 May 1920 – 1985) was a British abstract painter, potter, teacher, and in the 1940s, a renowned rock climber.[1] He was born in Cumbria, and died in Wales.
History
[edit]Peascod was born in Ellenborough, Cumbria, where he worked as a coal miner from age 14, mountaineering[2] and painting in his spare time.[3]
He arrived in Australia in 1952 and lectured in mining at Wollongong Technical College.[4] Around 1959 he met Tom Gleghorn, who had a great influence on his work.[3]
He had his first one-man exhibition in Sydney in 1961, [3]
He worked and studied at the Seika College of Arts, Kyoto, Japan 1971–1972.[2]
He taught at the Canberra School of Art.[2]
In 1980, Peascod returned to Great Britain.[4]
A biography of Bill Peascod's pioneering Lakeland climbing exploits and achievements was written by Bill Birkett, first published in 1983 and republished in 2011.[5]
In 1985, Bill Peascod re-climbed one of his classic Lakeland rock routes, Eagle Front in Eagle Crag, Buttermere, graded VS 4C, with Chris Bonington for a TV documentary film, 45 years after he had made the first ascent.[6]
His autobiography, Journey After Dawn was published in 1985. In 1986 the University of Wollongong held a major retrospective of is life and work at their "Long Gallery", featuring over 40 of his artworks.[4]
Bill Peascod died from a heart attack while climbing in North Wales with Don Whillans on 17 May 1985. According to Bill Birkett, Whillans was leading the first pitch of Colin Kirkus' classic climb 'Great Slab' on Clogwyn du Arddu with Peascod on belay. Birkett, who was watching, photographed the pair as Whillans started off and moments after, Bill Peascod succumbed to a massive heart attack and passed away.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ Max Germaine (1979). Artists and Galleries of Australia and New Zealand. Lansdowne Editions. p. 285. ISBN 0868320196.
- ^ a b c Alan McCulloch (1984). Encyclopedia of Australian Art. Hutchinson. ISBN 009148300X.
- ^ a b c "A major painter". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12, 252. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 March 1969. p. 21. Retrieved 26 November 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ a b c "William Peascod collection guide". University of Wollongong. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
- ^ a b Birkitt, Bill (11 February 2011) [1983]. "Lakeland Pioneer Bill Peascod". Footless Crow. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
- ^ Berriff, Paul (30 November 2024). "Eagle Front. Climbing with Mackerel on your feet". MNTN FILM, mountaineering and climbing films. Retrieved 30 November 2024.
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