Glyn Uzzell: Making a Mark is a blog dedicated to the life and work of a prolific painter/printmaker who, despite earning an international reputation throughout his lifetime, remains little known in the UK.
A research project seeking to explore and celebrate Uzzell’s legacy as an artist and educator is now underway. This blog aims to share research as it develops, bringing information about Uzzell to interested audiences, and providing a forum for ideas and connections still to be made.
The title of the blog – Making a Mark – refers, first, to the physical marks that Uzzell made throughout his life. As a gifted draughtsman, his early drawings reveal a natural ability to capture the character of the people and places he observed.
As a printmaker, experimental mark making seems to be at the core of every plate he made, and exists on a sliding scale between graphic precision and expressive spontaneity. In his paintings, we see a perfect marriage of gestural mark making, harmonious colours and balanced forms.
This blog seeks to explore Uzzell’s work in depth, gaining an understanding of his motivations as an artist, along with his techniques, materials and approaches to art-making.
The blog’s title also refers to the impression Uzzell made on his friends, family and colleagues throughout his lifetime. It is clear that, as a man and an artist, Uzzell’s presence had a big impact on those around him. This project aims to explore the influenced and influencers that shaped his career. However, the action of “making a mark” is defined in the present tense, as Glyn’s legacy continues to impact those who come into contact with his work.
Image Credit: Glyn Uzzell, Whirligig, 4/50, Colour relief on paper, ©Estate of the Artist, Courtesy of Graeme Broadbent
A note from the author
In October 2021, I had a long phone conversation with a friendly acquaintance, about the work of Glyn Uzzell. At that point, I knew of Uzzell’s gestural landscapes and jewel-like colour palette, but had very limited knowledge of his achievements or the vast extent of his oeuvre. I was easily persuaded to make contact with local art collector Graeme Broadbent, who had recently purchased a large number of Uzzell’s artworks from the artist’s family.
This collection of paintings, prints, drawings and collages has formed the basis of this research project. Without it, gaining an understanding of Uzzell’s body of work over five decades would have been significantly more difficult. With it, one can instantly see that Uzzell’s work married an instinctive understanding of space, colour and line, with a hunger for experimentation and expression.
Taking the time to research and promote Uzzell’s legacy is tremendously important to me. It is also something of a passion project, which I am undertaking in addition to my paid job. I don’t yet know where the project will take me, or how long it will take to get there. Progress will no doubt be slow, and may come in infrequent waves.
Nevertheless, I hope this blog provides an opportunity for learning about, and appreciation for, Glyn Uzzell. I also hope that it will enable me to make connections with more people who came into contact with Uzzell throughout his lifetime.
I would like to say thank you to the support of Glyn Uzzell’s friends and family, who have provided vital information and support for this research. I would also like to thank the artist’s estate for permission to reproduce the artworks on this blog.
Katie Ackrill, Researcher and Cuator, Glyn Uzzell: Making a Mark
Katie Ackrill is a Swindon-based curator and researcher, with a background in British art history. Katie completed her History of Art and Architecture MA at Reading University in 2014, and has since worked in Wiltshire-based museums and arts organisations. She currently works as a Collections and Exhibitions Officer for Swindon Museums.
Glyn Uzzell: Making a Mark 