Pat Maclaurin (1933-2022)
Sunrise
Oil on board, 11cm by 16cm

This work has been verified by the artist's daughter

Lots 583-618 are the first installment of works from the Estate of Pat Maclaurin (1933-2022).

Pat was born in New Zealand and studied at the Canterbury School of Art. For some years her children’s need and those of her husband’s medical practice forced a career break, but in 1973 the family moved to south west London and Pat was able to resume and develop her particular interests in figurative and portrait painting.

Initially, she got her hand and eye back in at Richmond Adult College, under the tutelage and friendship of Cecil H Birtwhistle (1910-1990), and was soon exhibiting at the local Richmond Art Society. During the 1980s, with both her daughters dancing in professional companies, Pat developed a real flair for capturing dancing figures (see lots 590-591) and held solo exhibitions at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, Lyric Theatre in Hammersmith, and at Richmond Antiquary. She also began a lifelong close friendship with fellow artist Salliann Putman (b.1937).

During the 1990s and 2000s Pat regularly exhibited at the following exhibitions, winning prizes at the Pastel Society and Royal Institute of Oil Painters: Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions, Royal Society of Portrait Painters, New English Art Club, Pastel Society, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and Society of Women Artists

The participation in these exhibitions led to Pat’s friendships with artists including Diana Armfield (b.1920) and Bernard Dunstan (1920-2017) and Mary Jackson (b.1946) (see lots 606-607) and her husband Tom Coates (1941-2023) (see lots 595-605), who became a particular friend and mentor. A special highlight of these years was a group painting trip to Egypt in 1993, led by Tom Coates (see lots 604-605). The subsequent very successful group exhibition was held the following year at the Mall Galleries.

During these years Pat attended many short courses, travelling regularly to places like Holt and Devon and working under artists like Peter Brown (b.1967) (see lots 608 -609). She was also inspired by her regular trips to southern France where her daughter Gilly had a house. For a short period in the early (19)90s Pat reduced her signature to her initials WPM, but by about the mid 90s she reverted to Maclaurin to sign off her works. Her works were selling through the following commercial galleries: Llewellyn Alexander Gallery, Wykeham Gallery, Stockbridge, Oliver Swann Gallery, Hyde Park Gallery, Whibley Galley, Worthing, Barnes Gallery and Russell Gallery.

In her later years Pat was encouraged in her work by Jason Bowyer until his untimely death in 2019 and by a group of friends led by Salliann Putman. She continued to visit Diana Armfield at her studio in Kew until the last few months of her life.