Education
Goldsmiths, University of London.
Goldsmiths, University of London.
He lived in London, at Kington Langley, in Wiltshire, and Bath. His etchings began following night-school classes at Goldsmiths College in London. He had been inspired by the major Samuel Palmer retrospective exhibition organised by Martin Hardie in London in 1926, and his first etching was made in that year.
He was particularly moved by Palmer"s early period Shoreham works which had been so influential on fellow students such as Paul Drury, William Larkins and Graham Sutherland.
He also acknowledged his admiration for the technical craftsmanship of the older etcher, F.L. Griggs. Tanner was thus part of the etching revival in England, but the market for etchings collapsed following the economic depression of 1929, and by the growing use of photography for illustration.
Tanner turned to teaching to earn his livelihood. His passion for teaching fine art to young children was infused into many English counties through his role as Her Majesty Inspector of Schools in primary schools from 1935 to 1964.
Following his retirement in 1964, Tanner took up printmaking again with dedication.
Wiltshire Village was reprinted as late as 1978, and became a best seller. In 1932 they had moved into the house they built outside Chippenham, Old Chapel Field, where the diarist Francis Kilvert"s ancestors lie buried. They lived there for the rest of their lives.
He was awarded an Honorary Degree (Master of Arts) by the University of Bath in 1977.
His later work, such as Woodland Plants, shows the influence of William Morris. Ashmolean Museum of Art, Oxford, 1981.
"Robin Tanner". The Fine Art Society, London, 2004.
"Visions of Landscape: Samuel Palmer & Robin Tanner".
He followed in the visionary tradition of Samuel Palmer and English neo-romanticism.