Feb 17, 2023
It is with immense sadness we share with you the death of Stanley Jones MBE at the age of 89. Stanley died peacefully on 10 February just 2 months after the passing of his beloved wife, Jenny. Our heartfelt thoughts are with his children Matthew and Liza and the extended family.
Stanley was our Founder and Life President of The Curwen Print Study Centre. Curwen was his life’s work from the successful establishment of The Curwen Studio in the 1950’s to the establishment of The Curwen Print Study Centre as an educational charity in the 1990’s.
In the 1950s, after studying lithography in Paris, he returned to Britain to set up the renowned Curwen Print Studio which spearheaded a rapid expansion in British Printmaking. Today he is revered in artistic circles as one of the greatest master printers of all time. His clients read like a rollcall of the 20th century's great British artists, including Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Elisabeth Frink, Paula Rego, Ceri Richards, David Hockney and Man Ray.
His vision and dream were to protect handcrafted fine art printmaking for future generations by creating a centre that allowed artists of all abilities the opportunity to learn and develop printmaking skills supported and inspired by the work of the many artists with whom he had worked.
Stanley was hugely proud that in March 2022 Curwen Print Study Centre moved to new premises in Great Thurlow. The new Studios enabled artists a complete print journey from beginner to accomplished artist working under their own direction alongside a print archive of prints, proofs, and documents available to see free of charge in the Gallery. It was the realisation of a lifelong dream and passion which started in the Plaistow, East London Curwen studio in 1958 and which he had thought he would not see achieved.
Throughout his life Stanley has touched all those who knew and worked with him with his calm and gentle nature. He has inspired artists of all abilities, shared his skills and so much more, to enable them to achieve the best they possibly could. His guidance was non-judgemental and his kindness for both the work and the person were synonymous so that all who worked with him both respected and loved him.
Lorraine Chitson
Centre Director