Peter Collins ARCA

Self-Portrait watercolour by Peter Collins ARCA

1995

With a fondness for life drawing, Peter Collins ARCA was perhaps a natural choice for the bikini-clad inhabitants of the pages of a holiday brochure. Collins's first job was at an advertising agency, in the commercial studio, while he attended evening art classes. World War II interrupted his career and he joined the Royal Artillery (of the British Army), teaching painting and drawing in the Education Corps, while simultaneously teaching at St Martin's School of Art, part time. Following the war, Collins studied at the Royal College of Art, winning a scholarship. Leaving in 1950, he then worked as a commercial artist producing some well-known posters for clients including British Railways and British European Airways. He was the Art Director at Odhams Press and spent time designing for both ICI and Shell. With his wife Georgette, he created the 'Bacombe Galleries' in Sussex, converting a group of buildings. In 1975, they again converted buildings, this time Stanley Studios in Chelsea, which were scheduled for redevelopment; many artists had worked there, probably the most famous being Elizabeth Frink. Combining an artist's studio and a single residence at Stanley Studios, the Collins’ were immersed in Chelsea's art scene and proceeded to fill the place with art, antiques, sculptures and curios.