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Mick Cawston...Artist
Mick Cawston was educated at the Robert Clock comprehensive school and it was here that he won his first exhibition at the age of seven. On leaving school Mick trained as a cabinet maker before signing up in the army for three years. There, amongst other things, he did a six month tour in Northern Ireland.
After the army he spent six months working as a motor cycle messenger in London, earning himself enough money to spend a few months touring Europe. Throughout all this time Mick's passion for drawing grew stronger and on returning from Europe he spent six months sketching people's children on the pavements of Covent Garden, in pastel at £3 a time. From here a London silversmith employed him to design silverware, largely for the Arab market. However, interesting as this was, it was never Mick's great passion and before very long he moved away from London and spent the next three years living in a small cottage on a farm in Burnham-on-Crouch and returned to selling his work on the streets, although this time his price had gone up to £18 a drawing. Despite his price increase he could not make a living and as a result he started to paint seriously in oils in the early part of 1987. By the middle of 1987 he had been discovered by Sally Mitchell and by the end of this year he had his first two limited edition prints published after his work.
Mick Cawston never looked back becoming one of the country's top selling published artists with a very strong following of country loving people. In 1996, Mick celebrated the publication of his 200th print, entitled Wildlife 200, which is a wonderful composite picture of British wildlife. The painting was used in a children's competition, run by the national magazine 'The Shooting Times', for young children to name all the animals in the picture. The original painting, an oil on canvas, 24 inches by 36 inches was donated to the Animal Health Trust where it was successfully auctioned for £3,000. Mick was featured by Gundogs magazine in 1996 as one of the leading dog artists. He has been featured in many magazines and his work has graced numerous front covers of leading publications. The first time he exhibited at the Society of Equestrian Artists in London, with only the second horse picture he had ever painted, he won the award for the best newcomer. The next year he was awarded full membership.
Mick Cawston's untimley death in 2006 was a great shock to everyone. We were literally inundated with emails and letters of condolence, Mick would have been extreamly touched to see how many people mourned his passing and his family were very greatful for all of the kind words. He was a very special person and a true friend.
See below for Limited Edition prints by the late Mick Cawston |
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