Dr David's Art Page
David Bethel, CBE, RWA 1923
— 2005
Dr David Bethel (born David Bethel!) was born in Bath, and at
age 15 moved to Gloucester. After war time service in the Far East with the
Royal Navy,
David studied at Gloucester
College of Art, the West of England College of Art and the University of
Bristol. After graduation his teaching career began at Stafford College of Art
and Design, where he became departmental head in 1954; in that year he was
also elected an associate member of the Royal West of England Academy of Art.
Two years later he was appointed vice principal of Coventry College of Art and
Design, where he became principal in I965.
In 1969 he was invited to become the Deputy Director of the
newly designated Leicester Polytechnic, then took over as Director a year
later and remained in post until his retirement in 1987. David was then the
only polytechnic director from an art and design background.
In addition to these senior academic positions, David was
an executive committee member of the Council for National Academic Awards,
where he was chairman of the committee for art and design. Whilst in this
position he took the lead in writing the regulations for MPhil and PhD degrees
in art and design
During David’s training and academic career he produced his
own prints using a variety of mediums: relief etchings; lino cuts, lithograph;
silk screen prints and watercolours. His paintings and prints have been
exhibited at various Royal Societies and commercial galleries with works
purchased for public and private collections.
Following his retirement his expertise was sought after,
and he was asked to serve on a variety of committees and advisory boards
including various Arts and academic charities, granting student bursaries. It
was during this time that he served on the council of the RWA between
1994-1997, being elected to senior executive vice-president in his last year
on council. After 1997 David continued to advise and support the RWA meeting
monthly in Bristol. David was also a regular contributor to the Autumn
Exhibition, and his work can be seen in collections in the UK and abroad.
David continued to paint and design until the spring of his
last year, 2005, when he grew too tired and unwell to continue. David died two
weeks before Christmas 2005, in the Leicester Royal Infirmary and is missed
continuously.
