George Dannatt (English, 1915-2009)

Biography

George Dannatt was a connoisseur-turned-artist who became closely associated with the St Ives artistic community. Although he came to art later in life, he had a 50-year career creating paintings, prints, collages, assemblages, and sculptures. The ethos of his work was inspired by the Cornish Modernists of St Ives and the surrounding area.

Dannatt met and learned from artists such as Adrian Heath, Patrick Heron, and John Wells. Through these initial encounters, he became increasingly drawn to the St Ives group of painters. Many of them became his friends and were important to his art collection, including his teachers Terry Frost, Alexander MacKenzie, Roy Conn, Denis Mitchell, and Tommy Rowe. In the early 1970s, Dannatt became a member of the Penwith and Newlyn Societies, and he exhibited with both galleries. In his abstract compositions, George Dannatt achieved an impeccably balanced synthesis of geometry and nature. His drawings and paintings demonstrate a mastery of colour, composition, and texture.

Throughout their lives as patrons of the arts, Dannatt and his wife Ann curated an immaculate collection of works by many St Ives artists. Much of this collection was gifted to the Pallant House Gallery in Chichester, and an exhibition was organised to showcase this generous and important gift.

Dannatt’s work is held in many private and public collections, including the Pallant House Gallery, the Royal Air Force Museum, Dorset Museum & Art Gallery, Atrium Gallery, and Southampton City Art Gallery.