Raising the profile of an artist with ‘his own language’

However, Linton Court Gallery in Settle is doing its bit to change that with an exhibition of Clarke’s sculptures, drawings, paintings and original prints.

Clarke, who was born in Darley Dale in 1924 studied at the Preston and Manchester Schools of Art in the early 1940s before being drafted into the war effort.

Following his spell in the RAF he returned to his studies and in his youth he was highly regarded, not only representing Britain at the prestigious Venice Biennale Exhibition, but chosen as one of the artists to produce work for the new Coventry Cathedral.

“He is an incredibly versatile artist, who has worked in stained glass, silver and for his sculptural work, aluminium,” says exhibition curator Mary Gavagan. “He produced three windows for the cathedral in Coventry which was built after the town suffered heavy bombing during the war and his work is highly regarded in artistic circles.

“At the end of the 1960s his sculptures featured in a British sculpture exhibition at the Tate and he has been a member of the Royal Academy since 1975.Unfortunately for some reason the real breadth of his work has not been widely shown since.

“Like the Spanish artist Miro, Clarke developed his own language of signs and symbols to convey his ideas and the work we have on display shows just how talented an artist he is.”

Geoffrey Clarke: North by South East, Linton Court Gallery, Settle, to August 30. 01729 824497, www.gavaganart.com