Nick Schlee

Nick Schlee was born in 1931 in Weybridge, Surrey. He left school at 17 and joined a London advertising agency working in the layout department. After National service, he returned to his day job in London. But he was encouraged by his eldest brother to pursue a recently discovered interest, reading. As a result he went on to read English at Oxford University where, in 1952, he was to meet his future wife in a lecture.

From the age of nine, and at school, Nick Schlee had been good at art and it was this talent that was recognised by the Dean of the college and his prospective tutor who felt it was good to have an artist in the college to help create a balanced community. After university, in 1955, Schlee went to work in New York finding himself a trainee position in the mail room for a large advertising agency. While there, he studied part time at the Art Students League.

Painting continued to be a passion of Schlee's throughout his career in business and he found time at the weekends to turn to canvas and take evening classes at the Central School, Morely College with Laurence Toynbee, Putney Art School and The Slade. It wasn't until the age of fifty-eight in 1989 that Schlee turned to full time painting. By then he had exhibited at The Royal Academy and at many ILEA exhibitions and 'The Spirit of London'.

During the 90s through to today Schlee has had regular one man ... show more

Nick Schlee was born in 1931 in Weybridge, Surrey. He left school at 17 and joined a London advertising agency working in the layout department. After National service, he returned to his day job in London. But he was encouraged by his eldest brother to pursue a recently discovered interest, reading. As a result he went on to read English at Oxford University where, in 1952, he was to meet his future wife in a lecture.

From the age of nine, and at school, Nick Schlee had been good at art and it was this talent that was recognised by the Dean of the college and his prospective tutor who felt it was good to have an artist in the college to help create a balanced community. After university, in 1955, Schlee went to work in New York finding himself a trainee position in the mail room for a large advertising agency. While there, he studied part time at the Art Students League.

Painting continued to be a passion of Schlee's throughout his career in business and he found time at the weekends to turn to canvas and take evening classes at the Central School, Morely College with Laurence Toynbee, Putney Art School and The Slade. It wasn't until the age of fifty-eight in 1989 that Schlee turned to full time painting. By then he had exhibited at The Royal Academy and at many ILEA exhibitions and 'The Spirit of London'.

During the 90s through to today Schlee has had regular one man

exhibitions in London and around the country including Edinburgh and Oxford. His works are now held in public collections across England including Liverpool University, The City of London Guildhall Gallery, Southampton City Art Gallery, Reading Museum & Art Gallery, Swindon Art Gallery, Hampshire County Council and Gallery Oldham.

Schlee continues to paint today living and working in Upper Basildon, Berkshire where he is inspired by the dramatic local landscape that surrounds him. He works quickly in coloured oil pastels and charcoal to capture all the elements in the landscape that excite him. Many of these drawings are worked up to large paintings in oils back in the studio.