Introduction
Biography
Portrait
Gallery

Alan Needham, Cornish Fisherman

Alan Needham
Cornish Fisherman
1984-85, 39"x25", oil

Biography and Background


MICHAEL NOAKES: portrait and landscape painter

  • Married to the writer Dr Vivien Noakes,
    MA, DPhil, F.R.S.L.
  • 1d, 2s.

  • Educated:

  • Commissioned: National Service 1954 - 56
  • A Freeman of the City of London
  • A Liveryman of the Company of Woolmen

  • Broadcasting
    • Broadcast and televised widely on art subjects in the UK: some television in the USA and South Africa. In all, about one hundred and fifty items.

    • Subject, with Eric Morley, of BBC 2 Television film, Portrait shown in 1977 and 1978.

    • Subject, with JAK, of BBC 1 Television film, Changing Places: shown in 1989.

    • Art Correspondent 1964 - 68 for BBC Television programme, Town & Around

  • A Juradier of St Emilion

  • A Member of the Garrick Club

  • PAST PRESIDENT, THE ROYAL INSTITUTE OF OIL PAINTERS (known as the ROI):

    • Elected to Membership 1964
    • Vice-President 1968 - 72
    • President 1972 - 78
    • Honorary Council Member 1978 -
    • Fellow of the ROI 1996 -

  • MEMBER, THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PORTRAIT PAINTERS (known as the RP):

    • Elected to Membership 1967
    • Council Member 1969 - 71: 1972 - 74: 1978 - 80: 1993 - 95

  • A Governor of the Federation of British Artists 1972 - 81

  • A Director of the Federation of British Artists 1981 - 83

  • An Honorary Member of the National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Print-Makers and of the United Society.
  • Formerly: Chairman of the Contemporary Portrait Society
  • Formerly: President of the Society of Catholic Artists
  • Formerly: President of the Reigate Society of Artists
  • Formerly: Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts

  • EXHIBITED one-man show, Christie's, December 2000

  • EXHIBITED in mixed Exhibitions:

    • National Society of Painters, Sculptors and printmakers

    • Work toured widely with Art Exhibitions Bureau in UK, USA, Canada, Australia.

    • National Portrait Gallery Permanent Collection:
      • Drawing of Dame Margaret Rutherford: portrait studies of Sir Ralph Richardson, Robert Morley and J.B. Priestley, OM.

    • National Portrait Gallery Temporary Exhibitions:
      • Inclusion in Exhibition Elizabeth II - Portraits of Sixty Years
      • Order of Merit Drawings from the Royal Collection, 1992
      • The Duke and Duchess of York: unveiled and on extended exhibition.

  • PUBLICATIONS:
    • Book: A Professional Approach to Oil Painting, Pitman: 1968
    • Book: Over 360 illustration for The Daily Life of the Queen: An Artist's Diary, (Ebury Press, September 2000). Written by Dr Vivien Noakes.
    • Contributions to various art journals: The Artist, Arts Review, Pictures and Prints, Leisure Painter etc.
    • Also other contributions, mainly on art subjects, to:
      • Gilbert Harding by his friends
      • Robert Morley's Book of Bricks
      • Robert Morley's Second Book of Bricks
      • Dear Alec: Guinness at 75

  • REPRESENTED IN COLLECTIONS:
    • The Queen: Private Collection and Royal Collection, Windsor
    • The Prince of Wales: portrait studies of The Queen and of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and drawings of The Prince of Wales
    • The British Museum
    • National Portrait Gallery. Drawing of Dame Margaret Rutherford: Hugill Fund purchase, 1972, by the President and Council of the Royal Academy. Study of Sir Ralph Richardson: direct purchase from the artist, 1988, by the National Portrait Gallery. Study of Robert Morley: direct purchase by the National Portrait Gallery, 1996, from sitter's family. Study of J.B. Priestley: gift from the Estate of Jacquetta Hawkes, his widow, 1996.
    • Numerous Oxford and Cambridge Colleges, and in other Universities.
    • House of Commons
    • Frank Sinatra
    • Guildhall, London
    • Inns of Court, Livery Companies, Greater London Council at County Hall, Westminster etc.
  • PLATINUM DISC AWARD:
    • for the record-sleeve, Portrait of Sinatra, 1977. The first time a Platinum Disc was awarded to a painter and probably still the only occasion when such an award has been made specifically for work on a record-sleeve.

  • JUDGING:
    • Michael Noakes has sat on Selection Committees for many art societies and other organisations.
    • He was selected by the organisers, after consultation with Buckingham Palace, to be the UK Judge for the Doug Moran National Portrait Prize, the major Australian portrait competition mounted as part of the bicentenary celebrations there in 1988. A judge from the USA and another from the USSR were also appointed. This panel of three judges awarded a first prize of A$100,000 - at that time the equivalent of nearly £50,000.
    • Michael Noakes was a judge in the Miss World Contest, 1976.