Jack Millar NEAC (1921-2006)
Jack Millar was a prominent figure in the British art scene, known for his landscapes, interiors, and still lifes. His work is characterized by a keen observation of light and colour, often capturing everyday scenes with a sense of tranquillity and depth. He was born in London. His father, Ernest Woodroffe de Cauze Millar, was a scenic artist at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden. After his father's early death, Jack was fostered, a period he later described as bitter, though he reconciled with his father in later years and admired his artistic achievements. Millar began his formal art education at Clapham School of Art in 1939, followed by St Martin’s School of Art in 1941. After World War II service in the Royal Artillery, including time in India and South Africa due to illness, he resumed his studies at the Royal College of Art from 1947 to 1950. There, he studied under notable artists such as Rodrigo Moynihan (1910-90), John Minton (1917-57), and Carel Weight (1908-97), and graduated with first-class honours, receiving the Andrew Lloyd Scholarship for landscape painting in 1950.
He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibitions from 1948 and participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout his career. His works were displayed in various galleries, including the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts, Whitechapel Art Gallery, and Roland, Browse & Delbanco. Notably, two of his works are held in the Royal Academy's collection. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1954 and the New English Art Club (NEAC) in 2001. His artistic achievements were recognized with several accolades, including the De Laszlo Medal in 1989.
In 1969, Millar married fellow artist Pamela Izzard (b. 1926). Beyond his personal artistic practice, Millar was dedicated to art education. He served as a visiting lecturer at the Royal Academy Schools from 1964 to 1992. Additionally, he was head of fine art at Walthamstow School of Art from 1966 to 1973 and at Kingston Polytechnic from 1973 to 1986. His teaching influenced many students, and he was known for his supportive and insightful guidance.
Jack Millar NEAC, Dulwich Evening, Oil on board (49 × 39cm), framed (62 × 52cm). Unsigned, inscribed on verso.
Millar’s style and technique reflected a deep engagement with figurative traditions, modern British painting, and a quiet, introspective observation of the world. His work is rooted in the post-war British art scene, blending modernist sensibilities with traditional craftsmanship. Millar worked predominantly in a representational style, painting landscapes, still lifes, interiors, and occasional figures. His compositions are quiet, reflective, and often intimate in mood. Tonally rich and atmospheric, he employed muted, earthy palettes, often emphasizing subtle variations in tone and light rather than bold colour contrasts. His primary medium was oil, applied with restrained, confident brushwork, with a keen eye for spatial relationships. His still lifes and interiors are meticulously composed, with careful placement of objects and attention to negative space. Light plays a central role in his work - not dramatic, but softly diffused, often filtered through a window or reflected off surfaces, giving his scenes a gentle luminosity. His training at the Royal College of Art gave him a strong foundation in draughtsmanship, evident in the structure and clarity of his forms.
Millar’s work occupies a space between traditional academic painting and modern British post-impressionism. His style is comparable in sensitivity and tone to his teachers Carel Weight and Rodrigo Moynihan. He shared affinities with contemporaries such as the Euston Road School artists and Kitchen Sink painters, though his work was often more refined and poetic than overtly gritty or social realist. Like many British painters of his generation, he was indirectly influenced by French modernists, particularly in the balance and harmony of his compositions.
Millar's art continues to be celebrated for its serene beauty and technical mastery. His paintings are held in public and private collections across the UK, including the Derby Art Gallery and the London Borough of Camden. His contributions to art education and his artistic legacy remain influential, reflecting a career dedicated to the appreciation and teaching of fine art. His work embodies a kind of understated British lyricism, reflecting everyday scenes with care, dignity, and thoughtfulness.
Jack Millar NEAC, Dulwich Evening, Oil on board (49 × 39cm), framed (62 × 52cm). Unsigned, inscribed on verso.
Jack Millar NEAC, Dulwich Evening, detail.
Jack Millar NEAC, Dulwich Evening, detail.