Logo
CRADDY, Eric Haysom, ARWA.* PDF Print E-mail
Born 1913. Won a choral scholarship to Bristol Cathedral School. Then moved to Bristol School of Arts under R. E. J. Bush. Apprenticed as a designer with Mardon, Son and Hall. Worked on original sketches for sets of cigarette cards, the last, just before World War 2, being a series of 50 on The Story of Navigation. Became an Artist Member of the Savages in 1937. Joined the Territorial Army in 1938. Commissioned into the RASC and served in the Middle East in Iraq and Syria. Seconded to the 2nd New Zealand Division in the Western Desert, wounded and deafened by shell fire. Later posted to 8th Army HQ in a Staff Appointment during the planning of the Italian campaign and landings in Syracuse and Italy. Returned to the UK from Venice and Naples in 1945. De-mobbed in November 1945 and found it very difficult to settle down again in Mardon`s Studio. It was a particular joy to pick up the threads of Artist Membership of the Bristol Savages and meet up with fellow Red Feathers on Wednesday evenings. Became President on 3 occasions, the last being in 1967. Retired from Mardons in 1973 after 19 years as Senior Sales Representative, looking after the packaging requirements on W. D. & H. O. Wills. Regular exhibitor at Annual RWA Exhibitions and elected ARWA in 1947. Painted in watercolour and oils, particularly marine subjects. For many years he was keenly interested in dinghy racing and was Commodore of the Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club. Later he raced small deep-keeled yachts from Brixham. Sadly all this came to an end when his dear wife Betty suffered a stroke and required constant nursing. He gave up painting in the studio but manages to contribute a few paintings to the Savages` Annual Exhibitions. (E.H.C.)