George Campbell (painter) facts for kids

George Campbell (born July 29, 1917 – died May 18, 1979) was a talented Irish artist and writer. Even though he grew up in Belfast, he spent a lot of his life painting and living in Spain and Dublin, Ireland.

George Campbell's Early Life

George Campbell was born in Arklow, County Wicklow. His mother was Gretta Bowen and his father was Matthew Campbell. He went to a boarding school in Dublin. After that, he moved to Belfast to live with his mother and family.

Art and Writing Beginnings

During the Belfast Blitz, a time when Belfast was bombed during World War II, George Campbell was working in an aircraft factory. He started painting the damage caused by the bombs. This was the beginning of his art career.

In 1943, he helped start the Irish Exhibition of Living Art. This was an important event for new artists in Ireland. That same year, he and his brother Arthur published a book called Ulster in Black and White. It had drawings by them and other artists. Because it was so popular, they published another book in 1944, Now in Ulster. This book was a collection of stories, essays, and poems by young writers from Belfast.

Exhibitions and Recognition

George Campbell showed his art in many places. In 1944, he had a joint exhibition with his brother Arthur in Belfast. He also showed his work with another artist, Gerard Dillon. He had many shows at the Victor Waddington Gallery in Dublin.

He won £500 at a painting competition in 1962. This was a big award at the Ulster Museum. He also had solo exhibitions with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland in 1966 and 1972.

Life in Spain

After World War II, Campbell became very interested in Spain. He met Spanish people living in Dublin in 1946. He even painted Spanish dancers in their traditional clothes. He first visited Spain in 1951. He was encouraged by his friend Gerard Dillon.

Campbell loved Spain so much that he lived there for about six months almost every year. He did this for about 25 years.

Artistic Achievements

George Campbell created beautiful stained glass windows for Galway Cathedral. He was also a talented musician and played the flamenco guitar. He was a member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, a group of important Irish artists.

He won the Douglas Hyde Gold Medal in 1966. In 1969, he won the Oireachtas Prize for Landscape. The Spanish government honored him in 1978. They made him a Knight Commander of Spain.

Death and Lasting Impact

George Campbell passed away in Dublin in May 1979. He left behind his wife Margaret, his mother, and his two brothers, Arthur and Stanley.

After he died, two art councils and the Instituto Cervantes created an award in his memory. It is called the George Campbell Memorial Travel Award. In 2017, his hometown of Arklow put up plaques to mark his birthplace and 100 years since he was born.

George Campbell's art is in many important collections. You can see his work at Queen's University Belfast, the Ulster Museum, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and the Hugh Lane Gallery. His paintings are also in the Municipal Museum of Antequera, Malaga, Spain.

Books by George Campbell

• Ulster in Black and White, Belfast, 1943 (with Arthur Campbell).
• Now in Ulster, Belfast, 1944 (edited with Arthur Campbell).
• Guide to the National Monuments in the Republic of Ireland, 1970 (illustrated by him).
• An eyeful of Ireland, Dublin, 1973.