The painted world of Fred Dubery was all about warmth and colour – a bright pattern of life reflecting a private place of beauty, pleasure and merriment. Known from numerous solo exhibitions, and from regular showings at the Royal Academy and New English Art Club, the pictures are a record of joyful travels in France and Italy and, best of all, of domestic contentment via a long and happy marriage amid a visual feast, and a procession of amazing meals, in a lovely Suffolk setting. Fred Dubery was teaching at Walthamstow Art School when he had a fateful meeting with fashion tutor Joanne Brogden. She had trained under Christian Dior and would become a pioneering Professor of Fashion at the Royal College of Art while Fred was appointed Professor of Perspective at the Royal Academy Schools. Adding a large adopted family of former students, their life together was the heart of everything. Fred and Joanne left a legacy for art and fashion education and the paintings richly illustrated in this volume – imagestechnically so clever and so subtle – offer a lasting lesson in how to live.
