William Gear, RA

William Gear RA RBSA (1915-1997) was a British painter, teacher, and administrator, born in Fife. He studied painting at Edinburgh College of Art from 1932-36 before continuing his studies with History of Art at Edinburgh University. After being awarded a travelling scholarship, Gear spent a year in Europe, working under Leger in Paris. He served in Europe and the Middle East during the Second World War, but also continued to paint and exhibited in Italy. Post-war, he worked in Germany dealing with the country's monuments and art after the war, before moving back to Paris where he joined the Cobra Group. He was one of the most international in spirit among the British artists of his generation and one of the relatively few to make a reputation outside Britain.