Albany Wiseman, artist and author of popular ‘teach yourself’ books on drawing and painting – obituary
Albany Wiseman, who has died aged 90, was an artist and illustrator whose books of instruction on technique have inspired many an amateur artist.
Wiseman’s illustrative style was much in demand, and during the 1960s he and David Gentleman were commissioned to illustrate all the telephone directories of Great Britain with landmarks of the different counties.
His charm and good humour, combined with his talent for communication, made him a popular teacher, and he was regularly the artist in residence for summer courses, notably with Arts in Provence.
These led to the production of the self-help books Drawing Solutions, Watercolour Solutions, Drawing and Painting People, and The Artist’s Sketchbook, for which the Prince of Wales wrote the introduction, having been tutored by Wiseman in the art of laying a wash.
Albany Gordon Wiseman was born on August 24 1930. From St Albans School, where he showed a gift for drawing and painting, he studied at St Albans School of Art. Thereafter he always carried a sketchbook, which provided him with a large volume of material for his books and paintings.
His period of National Service with the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was spent partly in Egypt, where he painted murals for the officers’ mess. Sketches which he made at that time, evoking the life of a squaddie, are now held at the National Army Museum.
After National Service, Wiseman joined the studio of his father, Charles Wiseman, an established commercial artist, near St Paul’s Cathedral, taking it over on his father’s retirement. He also became a visiting tutor at Leicester College of Art. His teaching technique always involved finding something positive to say about the most unpromising works, and sharing his own experiences and insights.
For about 30 years from the 1970s Wiseman shared a studio with his former school friend Robin Ollington, with whom he collaborated in a number of ventures including the design of postage stamps and coins, and the illustration of children’s books.
These included Wrenard of St Paul’s, based on the true story of a stray fox which inhabited the Cathedral, and Christopher of St Albans, a children’s guide to the Abbey. His fond memories of his time in the Army informed his illustrations for Tommy Atkins Goes to War, written for the Thiepval Memorial Museum.
In 2018, to mark the 300th anniversary of the Foundling Hospital, the pair produced Captain Coram Champion of Children, a book distributed to every primary school in the country.
In addition Wiseman produced Christmas cards and a popular print for the Royal Hospital Chelsea and a series of prints for schools, universities and hospitals.
Wiseman’s studio in Chelsea was a short walk from the Chelsea Arts Club where he was a popular figure. He was also a member of the Royal Watercolour Society, the Chelsea Arts Society, the London Sketch Club, and Harlequins Rugby Club. After moving from his Chelsea Studio in 2010 he occupied a small studio in Pied Bull Yard, a short walk from his flat near the British Museum.
Forty years earlier he had been active in campaigning to preserve that part of South Bloomsbury, which was threatened with destruction to make way for the British Library. His sensitive illustrations capturing the character of the area and its community were instrumental in preserving a district of London which he cared for deeply.
Wiseman was innocent in matters of business. At the end of one course where he had been artist in residence he was surprised to be presented with a bill for board and lodging which exceeded the fee for his tuition.
His first wife, June, died in 2000, and he is survived by his second wife, Maria.
Albany Wiseman, born August 24 1930, died January 17 2021
