Philip Whitten

Only managed to find out the potters name Phillip Whitten ,( he's in the who's who art ) Father Of The potter Jon Whitten , phillip was an artist and sold painting through various sources Christies etc and in mallorca  , no idea as to when or where or with whom he potted with though , I did ask Jon  a few times for more info and he said he's write back but Iv'e given up on that , I know when I'm beat .

It's a huge piece 20" High and obviously heavy .

I had no luck in getting any more information on this piece , I contacted Jon whitten about this piece , I only managed to get an email with a sheet on who's who about his father Philip , he was a painter but I haven't any info about his potting , where when etc , Nada , if anyone else would care to ask Jon I'd be grateful , his email is
http://www.stkewholidaycottages.co.uk/contact.html on here

Philip John Whitten was born in 1922 in Leyton (East London) and studied at Hornsey School of Art, Accrington School of Art and later from 1946 to 1949 he was at the Royal College of Art. None of his teachers/lecturers and these establishments seemed to have any connection with ceramics so it would appear that he became interested later.

It seems as if Philip spent much of his life after that in or around Eastbourne where he taught at Eastbourne School of Art. I say that because his son, Jon(athan), was born there in 1954.

Question is Philip Whitten dead? If not, I have an address in Eastbourne for him that was current in 2008.

Thanks John , I knew of his main interest in painting through a page in who's who , don't know if he's still around ,I am reluctant to contact his son as he appears to very busy and I don't want to be pushy , however it wouldn't have taken much to at least reply with some basics regarding his ceramic career .

William "Bill" Newland taught ceramics at the Institute of Education in London full time from 1960 until 1986 and there is reference to Philip Whitten being there in 1968. That might be where the pottery interest began?

Great ,I never knew that , it's a start , I wonder how prolific he was , as it's unlikely he started with such a big piece as this , not impossible but unlikely , there must be other pots lurking about somewhere   

Good luck...I love the pots

Just had a quick look through the net about Newland , quite an influence on a few big name potters of our time , Nicholas Vergette, Ian Auld , James Tower among many others seems he had an influence on lots of painters turning to ceramics as he himself had done .