Stuart Armfield (1916–1999): A Life in Colour and Harmony

Stuart Maxwell Armfield was a British painter whose elegant and contemplative work captured the quiet beauty of domestic life, nature, and the human form. Best known today for his serene still lifes and figure compositions, Stuart Armfield paintings reflect a deep sense of order, subtle emotion, and classic beauty.

1916 – Stuart Armfield was born in the Sanderstead, Surrey UK, growing up in an era of profound social and artistic change. He studied at the West of England College of Art in Bristol under Evan Charlton and Donald Milner before taking up a career in film design at Ealing Studios

1930s–40s – He developed a refined, representational style influenced by Renaissance art, British Neo-Romanticism, and European classicism. A Quaker pacifist, he turned to Symbolism during the war years. He was living in Polperro from 1942 with his partner George Bray in a house called ‘Tycara’. His early career was shaped by the turbulence of World War II, but his passion for form and harmony remained central. Following the war, he began to paint full-time living for many years in Cornwall, but unlike the rest of the Cornish art colony, he was not influenced by his surroundings and painted in a strong Surrealist manner. Specialising in painting with egg tempera, his work could take on a slightly flat, often ethereal feel.

1950s–70s – During these decades, Stuart Armfield paintings gained wider recognition. His signature works often featured luminous still life, interiors with open windows, and contemplative figures. His use of soft light, subtle colour palettes, and balanced compositions gave his paintings a timeless, almost meditative quality. Armfield exhibited at the RA, RI, RWS and ROI and with the Plymouth Society of Artists, Newlyn Society of Artists and the STISA. He has made numerous appearances on television demonstrating the use of egg tempera in which, like his uncle, Maxwell Armfield he had great expertise. He developed his style in egg tempera and published his book in 1958 about the medium and how to use it. In 1965 he opened a gallery on the quay in Looe in a building called 1666 house which is still there. The 1950’s and 60’s were his ‘years’ to flourish including his exhibiting in America.

1980s–90s – Armfield continued to paint prolifically and exhibit across the UK. His later works became increasingly sought after by collectors who admired his clarity of vision and quiet sophistication. James Colman Fine Art held an eightieth birthday retrospective in 1996 and a memorial show a year after his death. A work by Armfield is in the collection of the Imperial War Museum.

1999 – Stuart Armfield passed away, leaving behind a legacy of poetic and beautifully crafted paintings.

Today, Stuart Armfield paintings are celebrated for their quiet elegance and technical skill. His art invites viewers into peaceful, reflective spaces — offering a gentle reminder of beauty in everyday life.

Source: Various websites and articles