Building through history

Collection

Artist: Richard Cusden
Location: Corridor leading to Urology Dept, SDH South

Donated to ArtCare in 2012 this painting by Richard Cusden was originally commissioned for the Anglia Building Society in Salisbury in the 1980s. The theme shows buildings through the ages from Norman to Victorian and includes some familiar architectural features from around the Salisbury area.

Richard Cusden was a well-known local artist who lived in The Close from 1952 until the 1980s when he moved to Harnham. He was Art Master at Salisbury’s Bishop Wordsworth School until 1965 when he joined the staff at Salisbury College of Art where he lectured in the History of Art. In early 1970s he began his television career with the BBC, starting with his One Man Show series, teaching how to draw and paint. This was followed by ‘Private View’ – a series filmed at some of his favourite spots around the south. In 1981 he made ‘Cusden on Location’ and in 1983 ‘Cusden on Avon’.

You can read in more detail about the building styles featured on the panels in our leaflet on the artwork (pdf).

With thanks to ArtCare volunteer Anne Parrish for research and photographs.