Rose Hilton
1931-2019
Rose Hilton is an Artist who has been based in Cornwall since 1965. Her painting has a magic, mystical quality that draws you in. The presence of her late husband Roger Hilton is there thanks to the lessons he gave her as he became unwell and bed bound.
During this period Rose Hilton learned a great deal from her husband’s artistic philosophy, painted sporadically, and developed an interest in Ingres and the work of the modern French School, particularly the intense colour used by Bonnard, Dufy, and Matisse.
Her admiration for Matisse was a constant encouragement and inspiration during the 1980’s and, in the summer of 1983, she flew out to Russia on holiday to visit the Hermitage and see the Matisse’s and other French art in the state collection.
Ever willing to expand her knowledge Rose Hilton enrolled for Cecil Collins’ drawing classes the following year at the Central School of Art. She states that she gained a lot of confidence from these classes and her drawing freed up and moved away from the more formal approach she had until that time.
Having said this her work, for me, has reference to Patrick Heron, particularly in her most recent output. Indeed, it seems that in her late years she has become free in her work bringing another dimension to it.
A hugely talented painter with a great following. She also teaches at the Newlyn School of Art.