Thomas Carr (artist) facts for kids

Thomas James Carr OBE (born September 21, 1909, died February 17, 1999) was an Irish artist. He was known for painting everyday scenes and beautiful landscapes. He was also part of a group of artists called the Euston Road School in the 1930s. He received an award called the OBE for his work.

Thomas Carr: A Life in Art

Sketch for Making Coloured Parachutes

Thomas Carr was born in Belfast into a well-off family. He went to Oundle School where he learned art. His art teachers included E.M.O'R. Dickey and Christopher Perkins.

In 1927, Thomas moved to London. He studied art at the famous Slade School of Art. After two years, he traveled to Italy. He spent a year in Settignano, near Florence, learning more about art.

When he came back to London, Thomas became a respected painter. He was known for his realistic paintings of everyday life. In 1934, his work was shown in an exhibition. Later, in 1937, he had an exhibition with other artists. He then became linked to the Euston Road School. This group of artists focused on painting real-life scenes.

Starting in 1940, Thomas Carr had many solo art shows. His paintings were displayed in several well-known galleries. These included the Leicester Galleries and the Redfern Gallery.

In 1939, Thomas went back to Northern Ireland. He lived in Newcastle, County Down during the Second World War. During this time, he received special requests to paint. He painted scenes of parachute making. He also painted Short Sunderland flying-boats. These planes were being built in a factory in Belfast.

After the war, Thomas taught art. He worked at the Belfast College of Art. In 1955, he moved to Belfast. After his wife passed away in 1995, Thomas moved to Norfolk. He wanted to be closer to one of his three daughters.

Thomas kept painting even when he was very old. He mostly focused on painting landscapes. In 1985, a big exhibition of his art was held. It traveled from Belfast to Dublin.

Thomas Carr often showed his art at the Royal Academy. He was also a member of several important art groups. These included the Royal Ulster Academy and the Royal Watercolour Society. He was also an honorary member of the Royal Hibernian Academy.

In 1976, 49 of his artworks were chosen for a special show. It featured works from Ulster Artists. Queen's University gave him an honorary doctorate in 1991. This is a special award from a university.

Thomas was honored for his contributions to art in Northern Ireland. He received the MBE award in 1974. Later, in 1993, he received the even higher OBE award.