Biography
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.
NICK SCHLEE BIOGRAPHY
1931 Born in Weybridge, Surrey, England
1947 Won Both Gold and Silver medals fo under 18s given by the Royal Drawing Society
1955 Studied part-time at the Art Students League, New York
1957 Lived in London. Studied part-time at the Central School, Morely College
Putney Art School and the Slade
Exhibited at various ILEA exhibitions
The Spirit of London and the Royal Academy
1989 Lives and works in Upper Basildon, Berkshire
ONE MAN EXHIBITIONS
1987 Yehudi Menuhin School, Sussex
1988 The Grange, Rottingdean
1990 Wantage Museum, Oxfordshire
1992 Flying Colours Gallery, Edinburgh
1993 Castlegate House Gallery, Cumbria
1994 Barbican Centre, London
1995 Wantage Museum, Oxfordshire
1996 Simon Carter Gallery, Suffolk
The University of Liverpool
Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford
1998 Gallery 27, London
2000 Gallery 27, London
2001 Corn Exchange, Newbury
2002 Gallery 27, London
River & Rowing Museum, Henley
2003 Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford
2004 Gallery 27, London
2006 Oxford Said Business School
2008 West Berkshire Museum Modern Artists Gallery, Oxfordshire Gallery 27, London
2010 River & Rowing Museum, Henley Gallery 27, London
2012 Wiltshire Heritage Museum Gallery 27, London
2013 Basildon Park, National Trust
2014 Gallery 8, London
2016 Modern Artists Gallery, Oxfordshire
2018 Christ Church Picture Gallery, Oxford 2020
2020 Gallery 8, London
2022 Gallery 8, London
2023 Harvey & Woodd, Edinburgh
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
1988 Sure Rankin Gallery, London
1990 Roy Miles Gallery, London
1991 University College, Oxford
1992 Art '92, London
20th Century British Art, London
1993 Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
City Gallery, Leicester
1994 Templeton College, Oxford
1995 Arts Centre, Nottingham University
Midlands Art Centre, Birmingham
1997 Beatrice Royal Gallery, Hampshire
2013 St. Barbe Museum, Hampshire
2014 Gerald Moore Gallery, London
2016 St. Barbe Museum, Hampshire
2017 Southampton City Art Gallery
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
City of London Guildhall Gallery
Gallery Oldham
Hampshire County Council
John Creasey Museum, Salisbury
Liverpool University
National Trust, Basildon Park
Oxfordshire Museums
Portsmouth University
Reading Museum and Art Gallery
River & Rowing Museum, Henley
Southampton City Art Gallery
Swindon Museum and Art Gallery
Wessex Collection, Longleat House
West Berkshire Museum
Wiltshire Heritage Museum