It is with much sadness that Artworks announces the recent passing of Norfolk artist Roger Gamble. Chris Gamble has written this short essay on his life & art.

ROGER’S LIFE AND ART by Chris Gamble

Artworks Exhibition 2023

Roger established a bit of a reputation as an artist at school. He was forever drawing cartoons, and did a series of caricatures of the teachers, which got him a ‘severe talking to’ from the Headmaster. The caricatures were confiscated. Much later he learned that they had been pinned up in the staffroom. He won the senior prize for art in his final year.

Roger was obsessed by cartoons. One of his efforts was a crazy pen and watercolour version of Stephenson’s Rocket in the style of Roland Emmett, with bits falling off and strange figures and animals. His Mum, who worked in the Enquiry Office at Norwich Thorpe Station, had it mounted and framed. It hung on the wall behind her. One day a well-dressed chap came to ask about train times. He liked the cartoon. She told him it was the work of her sixteen year old son. The gentleman left his card, saying “It shows promise. I may be able to help him.” He was the features editor of the Daily Express. After a phone call to London the following Monday, a portfolio was sent. When the package returned, a covering letter advised that Roger should be apprenticed to a printer as a Lithographer. After some enquiries and an interview he was offered an apprenticeship in the Artists Department at Jarrold Printing.

Roger was able to continue his apprenticeship during National Service in the Royal Engineers map-making department, having been advised by a friend in the Artists Department not to shoot straight! In addition to drawing maps he designed dance posters and Christmas cards for officers in Southern Command. He completed his apprenticeship and became a qualified Lithographic Artist.

Blue Moon

Many people will know of Roger as a singer and musician, and with work, family and music, there was little time for exhibiting artwork. In the sixties Roger’s career took a turn. He moved to the London-based sales team, advising customers on the best ways to utilise the latest colour-reproduction techniques in their illustrations. One of his customers was Swan Hellenic Cruises. Roger was keen on photography, and was invited to take photographs for the brochures and double as Photography Lecturer on several cruises.

Breckland Trail

We moved to the country after Roger’s retirement, and converted the lower barn into a studio and print workshop. We were persuaded by a friend to enter Norfolk Open Studios, and met other local artists, becoming founder members of Breckland Artists. At that time the Eastern Open was the most prestigious regional art competition, at the Fermoy Arts Centre in King’s Lynn. In 2002 Roger painted a large work of a girl reading a book, viewed from overhead. It was awarded ‘Best in Show’. A fellow Breckland Artists member persuaded us to apply for Artworks. We have been members ever since.

Roger Gamble in his studio in Norfolk