Breon O’Casey

Breon O'Casey (1928-2011) was part of the St. Ives School of artists alongside Barbara Hepworth, Ben Nicholson and Bernard Leach. He studied at the Anglo-French Art School on S. John's Wood, London, after he returned from national service. After he learned about Alfred Wallis, he moved to St. Ives and became an apprentice to Denis Mitchell and then Barbara Hepworth. In Cornwall he also knew other artists such as Tony O'Malley, Peter Lanyon and John Wells.

His work is characterised by simple forms - birds, animals, flowers, objects and figures - which he took from nature and reduced to an idea that was almost primitive yet spiritual. Although mainly know for his paintings, he was also a printmaker, jeweller, weaver and sculptor.

He exhibited widely and his work is in the collections of the V&A; Tate; Leeds City Art Gallery and Kettle's Yard, Cambridge, as well as Pforzheim Museum, Germany and Museum of Fine Arts in Houston.