Hugh Dunford Wood: A Life Celebrated in Art and Craft
Hugh Dunford Wood, an acclaimed artist and craftsman, was honoured with the prestigious President's Award for Endangered Crafts by the Heritage Crafts Fund in 2022. This recognition highlighted his lifelong dedication to preserving and sharing traditional skills, a passion that defined his later years.
Early Life and Artistic Foundations
Born in Watlington, Oxfordshire, Hugh was the son of Angela, a nurse and physiotherapist, and Colin Dunford Wood, an RAF pilot. He attended Wellington College in Berkshire before pursuing his artistic education at the Ruskin School of Art in Oxford during the 1970s. This formative period laid the groundwork for a diverse and prolific career.
A Multifaceted Creative Career
Hugh Dunford Wood's artistic talents spanned numerous disciplines. He was renowned for his landscape and portrait paintings, but his creativity extended far beyond the canvas. In a notable venture, he established a successful fashion business, specialising in hand-painted silk ties. His collaborations with esteemed brands such as Paul Smith, Yohji Yamamoto, and Harrods showcased his unique aesthetic and commercial acumen.
His design work was remarkably varied, encompassing flatware, sculpture, jewellery, and fabrics. Additionally, he maintained a parallel career hand-printing colourful wallpaper for the Hamilton Weston historical wallpaper company, further demonstrating his mastery of craft techniques.
Professional Achievements and Residencies
Hugh made a comfortable living through his art and held significant artist-in-residence positions. In 1989, he served in this capacity at both the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Globe Theatre, as well as with the Church of England in London. His work was exhibited extensively across the United Kingdom and internationally. Notable institutions holding his pieces include the Victoria & Albert Museum, various Oxford colleges, and numerous private collections.
Later Years: A Focus on Teaching and Mentorship
In his later years, Hugh underwent a profound personal transformation. Once describing himself as too busy and selfish to engage with others, he dedicated his final fifteen years to nurturing creativity in those around him. He developed and conducted a series of workshops focused on specific craft skills, such as wallpaper and textile printing, iPad art, and sketchbook keeping. He derived immense satisfaction from imparting these techniques and fostering confidence in his students.
This commitment to education and skill-sharing was formally recognised when he received the Heritage Crafts Fund's President's Award for Endangered Crafts in 2022, a testament to his impact on preserving traditional arts.
Personal Inspirations and Philosophy
Hugh found deep inspiration in the natural world. He was rarely without his little cloth-bound sketchbooks, which he carried everywhere, using them to capture scenes and people with pencil, pen, and brush. This practice often attracted attention and led to new friendships. Sketching was not merely a hobby; it fuelled his imagination and artistic appetite.
His interests were broad, encompassing music from Orthodox chanting to freestyle jazz, as well as poetry, novels, and films. However, it was people, particularly those from younger generations, who truly energised him and sparked new ideas.
In a recent interview with the printing website handprinted.co.uk, Hugh shared his philosophy: "Neither hide nor hoard your talents, but share them, and accrue to them by inquiry with other artists and makers. Celebrate life and remember that the world is full of hosts – there are just not enough guests. So travel, overland, with your sketchbook and not with a camera." This outlook guided him on many adventures throughout his life.
Family Life and Legacy
Hugh married Emma Stacey in 1976, and the family resided in a rambling old farmhouse near Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. The couple divorced in 2000. In 2008, he married Candida Blaker. He is survived by Candida; his four children from his first marriage, Rollo, Pasco, Aquila, and the author; his stepson, Daniel; ten grandchildren; and his sister, Cynthia, and brother, James.
Hugh Dunford Wood's legacy is one of artistic versatility, entrepreneurial spirit, and a heartfelt commitment to passing on craft skills to future generations.
