(Small) figures (three) label >

(The label shows this painting to be No 6 from a total of 9 submitted at Bernard's application for the the Royal College of Art, London

(Small) figures (three) >

1972, Oil on Canvas

76cm x 77cm

Collection: Martin Lane

The Big Retrospective

1951 to 1973

Bernard David Ollis

Born, April 1951

Bath, Somerset, UK

Only son of Kenneth and Lilian Ollis

Bernard's Father, Ken Ollis served in North Africa and Italy during the second world war. He was a keen sportsman with a skill and passion for football and table tennis.

Bernard grew-up in Weston near Bath, seen here with his Weston All Saints school tie.

At the age of 11 he passed an entrance exam and for the next 5 years attended The Bath Art Secondary School. In this specialist school art formed the bulk of all study

Piggy back with his mother on holiday in Jersey.

1969 sees Ollis enroled on a one year foundation Studies course at Cardiff College of Art, Wales

From 1970 to 1973 he moved on to the Diploma in Art and Design course, also at Cardiff, specialising in painting.

Untitled >

1972, Acrylic on Cotton Duck

154cm x 123cm

This large painting is one of few that survive from the years at Cardiff College of Art

Collection: Martin Lane

Nearing the Bulgarian border >

As a student Bernard travelled over almost every part of europe. Here with Martin Lane's 850cc Wolsley Hornet, and fellow Cardiff student Martin Hughes, all are overheating. Photo opposite - an alarming accident with Bernard's painting fingers.

1974