Alan Boyson

Alan Boyson RCA
Born	1930 (age 85–86)
Alma mater	Manchester Regional School of Art (1950–1954) Royal College of Art (1954–1957)
Occupation	Lecturer in art muralist
Employer	Wolverhampton College of Art (c. 1959–60)

Alan Boyson, RCA (born 1930^[1][2]), is an English muralist and sculptor, who worked chiefly in glass,^[3] ceramic and concrete.

Boyson studied at Manchester Regional School of Art from 1950–1954,^[4] and at the Royal College of Art from 1954–1957.^[4] He was subsequently a lecturer at the School of Ceramics in Wolverhampton College of Art,^[3] during which time he established his own studio and began taking commissions.^[4]

An Associate of the Royal College of Art, Boyson worked until c. 2004.^[4] As well as public works, he also made smaller pieces.^[5]

When his mural The Tree of Knowledge, at the former Cromwell Secondary School in Salford, was given statutory protection by English Heritage, they said:^[4]

It has a high level of aesthetic and artistic quality represented in a bold and striking composition

Works

The Tree of Knowledge

Boyson's works include:

• decorative features and font, The Church of the Epiphany and St John, Corby (1960–1961)^[6][7]
• The Tree of Knowledge, Salford (1962; Grade II listed in 2009)^[8]
  • a ceramic tiled wall for the entrance hall of the same building (since lost)^[1]
• the Co-Op Mosaic in Kingston upon Hull (1963; now locally listed)^[3][9]
  • a mural depicting a shoal of fish, inside the same building
• concrete screens, City Arcade, Lichfield (1963; lost)^[10]
• glass-tile mural, Parkfields Cedars Grammar School (now Price Charles Avenue campus of Derby College), Derby (1969; now hidden behind partition wall)^[11]
• glass screen and decorative ceiling, Halifax Building Society headquarters, Halifax (1970s)^[4]
• stainless steel sculpture, NatWest Tower, London (late 1970s)^[4]
• abstract stained-glass window, St Ann's Church, central Manchester^[8] (church is Grade II listed^[4])
• mural, Co-operative Insurance Society Building, Manchester^[8] (building is Grade II listed^[4])
• ceramic memorial, Birmingham Oratory^[4] (restored 2010^[12])
• pyramids, Concourse Shopping centre, Skelmersdale (lost)^[13]
• mural, Queen's Hotel, Collyhurst^[14]
• sculptured aluminium banking hall ceiling, Bank House (Bank of England), Leeds (since removed)^[15]
• concrete frieze, Merseyway shopping centre, Stockport^[14]
• fourteen ceramic Stations of the Cross and three holy water stoops, St Raphael's Church, Huddersfield Road, Millbrook, Stalybridge, Manchester (grade II listed; closed 2011)^[14][16][17]
• tiles, George Cusick's greengrocery store (now in different ownership), Ashton Road, Denton, Manchester^[2]
• concrete screen at Pendleton (now Salford) College^[18]
• untitled mural, register office (former), Cygnet House, Gravesend, Kent^[19]
• mosaic, unknown school, Gravesend (missing)^[20]
• fibreglass sculpture, shopping centre Swinton, Greater Manchester (lost)^[21]
• designs (unused) for reliefs at Spring Gardens Post Office, Manchester^[22]

References

1. "Salford Tree of Knowledge Saved". Salford Star. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
2. Carr, Sue (23 June 2011). "Hidden treasure: Artwork is discovered in Denton furniture store". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
3. "Alan Boyson, Three Ships, Italian glass mosaic, 1963". C20 Society Murals Campaign. 20th Century Society. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
4. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1393433)". National Heritage List for England.
5. "Alan Boyson RCA, British mid-late 20th/early 21st century- Tree No 2; ceramic sculpture, signed, titled and dated 1977 on the underside". Roseberys. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
6. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1414359)". National Heritage List for England.
7. "Epiphany, Corby". Locus Iste. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
8. "Salford's Tree of Knowledge saved". BBC Online. 20 August 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
9. "Local buildings list" (PDF). Hull City Council. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
10. "City Arcade Becomes 50 Years Old". Lichfield Gazette. August 2013. p. 40. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
11. "Readers help solve mural site puzzle – but can it be saved?". Derby Telegraph. 22 February 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
12. "A Selection of Past and Recent Projects". The Jackfield Conservation Studio. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
13. "Alan Boyson – Sculptor of Skelmersdale New Town's Pyramid". Modernism North West. 9 February 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
14. "Alan Boyson's work in Manchester". Modernism North West. 8 February 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
15. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1419336)". National Heritage List for England.
16. Historic England. "Details from listed building database (1406451)". National Heritage List for England.
17. Carr, Sue (13 July 2011). "Church closes doors as repair bill rockets". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
18. "Salford Tourists Kick in the Teeth". Salford Star. 12 June 2011. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
19. "Alan Boyson, Untitled, Ceramin Tile". Twentieth Century Society. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
20. "Lost valuable ceramic prompts schools' hunt". Gravesend Reporter. 3 March 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
21. Wyke, Terry; Cocks, Harry (2004). Public Sculpture of Greater Manchester. Liverpool University Press. p. 169. ISBN 978-0-85323-567-5.
22. Gallagher, Paul (12 January 2014). "Can you help Hayley solve riddle of the Spring Gardens Post Office murals?". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 8 November 2016.

Further reading

• Marsden, Christopher R. (2010). "Anything with Anything: An introduction to the art and craft of Alan Boyson". TACS Journal. Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society. 16.
• Marsden, Christopher R. (Summer 2010). "Conservation – Alan Boyson panel". Glazed Expressions. Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society (66).