Valerie Thornton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Valerie Thornton
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| Born | 1931 London, England
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| Died | 1991 (aged 59–60) Chelsworth, England
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| Nationality | British |
| Education | Byam Shaw School of Art, Regent Street Polytechnic, |
| Known for | Printmaking |
Valerie Thornton (born in 1931, died in 1991) was a talented British artist. She was known for her amazing etchings and prints. An etcher is someone who creates art by scratching designs onto a metal plate. This plate is then used to make many copies of the artwork, called prints.
Valerie Thornton's Life
Valerie Thornton was born in London, England. This happened in 1931. During World War II, she and her two brothers moved to Canada. This was done for their safety. She returned to London in 1944.
After the war, Valerie started studying art. In 1949, she went to the Byam Shaw School of Art. From 1950 to 1953, she studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic. There, she learned from a teacher named P.F. Millard.
Valerie also traveled to learn more about art. She spent eight months at Atelier 17 in Paris, France. This was a famous art studio. In the early 1960s, she moved to New York City. She worked at the Pratt Graphic Art Center. These places helped her become a skilled printmaker.
Art Career and Achievements
In 1955, Valerie became an art teacher. She taught at Charterhouse School. She took over from another artist, Howard Hodgkin.
Valerie was also part of important art groups. In 1965, she helped start the Print Makers Council. This group supported artists who made prints. In 1970, she became a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painters-Etchers and Engravers. This was a big honor for her work.
Valerie Thornton's art is very important. Her work is kept in many major public collections. These include famous places like the Victoria and Albert Museum. Her art is also at the British Museum and the Tate gallery. These museums show her prints to many people.
Valerie passed away in 1991. She died in Chelsworth, Suffolk.
The Regent Street Group
Valerie Thornton was part of a special art group. It was called The Regent Street Group. This group had nine artists. They all studied together at the Regent Street Polytechnic. This happened in the early 1950s.
Other artists in the group included Susan Horsfield, Renate Meyer, and Michael Lewis. Ken Symonds, Philip Le Bas, and Peter Riches were also members. They shared their ideas and helped each other grow as artists.
