Peter retailer Collins ARCA (1923-2001) Royal Academy Trained Artist Nude Drawings

This is one of a selection of pieces I acquired by this well-known Chelsea, London artist Peter Collins ARCA (1923-2001) who enjoyed a successful career as a professional artist gaining much praise for his work firstly in the commercial market but latterly for his exhaustive pursuit to express himself in drawing the female form. I love the way he relentlessly seems to make marks of varied styles to communicate a drawing. It must be said, these kind of works were part of the academic study aspect of the artist exploring technique so not drawn or painted to produce a 'decorative' image but through experience as an illustrator and collector, in my personal collection I have often found this aspect of an artist's work much more fascinating than any of their 'finished' pieces as they worked an image up with much more freedom. This is one of the rarer 1960's drawings.

These drawings are not to be confused with the examples he would often leave in his art classes to demonstrate technique etc. which I sometimes see for sale. They are examples from the models he relentlessly advertised in the London Press to hire. There are many articles to research about him on the subject. He used all sorts of medium to bring something fresh to his work: Graphite, Pastel, watercolour, crayon and ink among others.

I think Peter Collins name will become familiar when more of this facet of his work is seen and collected. He was very much a part of the London Swinging Sixties. Many of his sitters were models, aspiring singers and actors all keen to be his subjects as they knew of his increasing artistic reputation. I saw many examples he produced and managed to select some pieces where I can see he has been trying something a retailer little different with either technique or medium.

Size 17 inches x 14 inches
43.2 cm x 35.cm


I believe when his work becomes more scarce to obtain, his prices will rise appreciably as I can confidently say, measuring his quality among other artists of a similar type, I know his work is so much undervalued as his vision and standard sits equally amongst names commanding ten to twenty times as much. He is after all English Royal Academy trained. I see many Sunday artist pieces at a local village fete commanding twice as much. Sadly but yet strangely excitingly, that can be the attraction on valuing art for yourself.