John Aldridge (artist)

John Arthur Malcolm Aldridge RA (26 July 1905 – 3 May 1983)[1] was a British oil painter, draftsman, wallpaper designer, and art teacher in the United Kingdom.

After attending Uppingham School in Rutland, Aldridge studied ‘Greats’ at Corpus Christi College at Oxford University and graduated in 1928 with a Bachelor of Arts degree.

Although he was a skilled 'plein air' painter, many works were produced in his studio at his home; his subjects were the Essex countryside, scenes from his many visits to Italy and to Mallorca, and his much-loved garden at Place House.

Starting in 1949, Aldridge taught at the Slade School for Fine Arts of University College London, under the realist painter Sir William Coldstream.After that he became very popular.

At the same time, other artists started moving to Great Bardfield, making the village a dynamic centre for the visual arts.

Aldridge in June 1970.
Aldridge's pen and ink drawing of San Severo and a pencil drawing of the same scene, circa 1944 or 1945. The pencil drawing is on the back of an aerial reconnaissance photograph.