Hayward Veal

W. Hayward Veal or Wilfred Hayward was a painter, art lecturer and critic who was associated with the Max Meldrum School of Painting in Melbourne and Sydney. He was born at Eaglemont, Victoria, in 1913. Despite receiving formal training in his father’s trade as an apprentice printer, Veal turned to painting. He commenced art classes at the age of 17 with Archibald Colquhoun, followed by classes with Colquhoun’s mentor, Max Meldrum. Veal joined the Max Meldrum School of Painting in 1932, where he later served as an Instructor. In 1937, Veal held his first solo exhibition at Hogan’s Gallery in Melbourne, subsequently traveling to Sydney in the same year. Upon arriving in his new hometown, Veal established an art school in Rowe Street, known as The Meldrum School. Hayward Veal’s career in Sydney was varied, as he taught art, exhibited his work, became an art critic for the Daily News and a frequent contributor to ABC’s magazine Talk. Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Veal served as an inspector in a Sydney aircraft factory, all the while maintaining his influence in and support of the arts. In 1940, he was made a Fellow and (later) Vice-President of the Royal Art Society of NSW. During the following year, Veal became Vice-President of the Fellowship of Australian Writers, he was appointed to the War Art Council and he occupied the position of Southern Buyer for the Queensland Art Gallery.