Geoffrey Squire RSA 1923-2012

Geoffrey Squire was born in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, and was educated at Heckmondwike Grammar, winning a scholarship to Leeds School of Art. It was the first of several scholarships that saw him study at the Ruskin School of Art at Oxford University and then Slade School of Fine Art at University College London. 

The war was at its height during his studies and, after being involved in fire spotting while he was at Oxford, he volunteered for the forces, joining the Fleet Air Arm. He was a telegraphist and air gunner, initially on swordfish aircraft with 830 Squadron and later on barracudas. Much of his service was with the 812 Squadron of the aircraft carrier HMS Vengeance. He also spent time in Malta where he returned with his barracuda pilot and navigator decades later, thanks to a lottery grant.

After the war and the completion of his studies he was offered a post teaching at drawing and painting at Glasgow School of Art in 1947. He eventually became the senior lecturer and worked alongside colleagues including David Donaldson, Her Majesty's Painter and Limner in Scotland. 

Meanwhile he continued his private work, primarily as a portrait painter. Though he was an incredibly versatile artist, having originally studied sculpture, he worked mainly in oil and latterly acrylic. 

His work is in private collections worldwide as well as in the Royal Scottish Academy; the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews; New College, Edinburgh and in the collection of Princess D Maria Cristina, Duchess of Braganza. He was commissioned to paint a miniature of Charles the 1st of Portugal and was awarded the order of Charles the 1st by a branch of the Braganza family. He also produced many self portraits.

Among those who sat for him was Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, formerly the Lord Lyon, and Mr Squire recorded a coat of arms at Lyon Office. They featured a swan and a rose reflecting his Yorkshire roots along with the motto Natura Potentior Ars - Nature's Art is Better. 

In July 1952 he married Jean Parlett and they lived in Glasgow for many years before moving to Elie in Fife where they moved in 1971. 

RSA Obituary, transcribed from the 2012 RSA Annual Exhibition