Eric was educated at the Farnborough Grammar School and as the only subject in which he showed any aptitude was drawing and painting.
He commenced an apprenticeship in a commercial art at Morgan & Swan Studios in London where he developed his skills by observing professional artists at work, and by attending the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts.
In 1947 he was conscripted into the Royal Navy where he qualified as an Airman Photographer, which proved to be a great asset in his later life.
He recommenced his art training after leaving the Navy as an improver and after a number of jobs in various London Studios working as a still life artist he ventured off on his own providing illustrative work for many London Advertising agencies.
In 1966 he founded a company in partnership with Eric Richardson, a typographical designer, and opened an art studio in Wokingham called Richardson Carpenter Design for Print Ltd. In 1973 the company expanded its services and became Richardson Carpenter Advertising.
Eric was primarily involved in the creative aspects of the company’s business and because of his illustrative skills was easily able to visually communicate his ideas to his clients.
Needless to say, after his retirement in 1989, Eric commenced his interest in fine art, a luxury he had been unable to pursue during his busy professional career. Because of the disciplines involved in the production of artwork for print and the demand for perfection demanded in the advertising world, his work, although popular in the eyes of the public, is often considered ‘commercial’ by exponents of ‘fine art’.
He works with all mediums and has had numerous commissions for water colour paintings but because of his draughtsmanship skills and knowledge of perspective ( he abhors the lack of this essential skill in many modern day artists) he loves to create imaginary situations which are best suited to acrylics. He likes his paintings to tell a story.
Eric joined the FAS shortly after his retirement and became an exhibiting member at the second attempt. He has twice won the ‘visitors’ prize, the judges commendation twice and the ‘James Hockey award for painting at the Spring Exhibition in 2010. He served as exhibition co-ordinator for many years and was privileged to be elected an Honorary Member of the Society in 2009.
