Graham David Smith
Encyclopedia
Graham David Smith is an artist and writer currently living in London. He has also worked in the USA under the name Paul Cline.
, who was to become a notorious art forger.
Smith moved on to the Royal College of Art
and Hebborn to the Royal Academy
, but the couple stayed together for the next 13 years.
Upon Hebborn's return from a two-year stay in Italy after winning the Academy's Prix-de-Rome, the couple lived together in the run-down Cumberland Hotel in Highbury
. They set up business buying and selling art, and spent many hours scouring junk shops for bargains. They befriended Marie Gray, who owned a shop near Leicester Square
, and it was at her suggestion and from her stock that they used blank sheets of period paper upon which Hebborn could create original drawings, while Smith 'antiqued' them.
In 1963 they moved to Italy and opened a gallery, which attracted the attention of several of the art cognoscenti of the day. Notable amongst them was Sir Anthony Blunt
, who often stayed with the couple when visiting Rome.
Smith and Hebborn grew apart and in 1969 Smith returned to London. He moved into fabric and wallpaper design, creating stylised designs of trees, flowers, birds and animals for Jean Muir
and Osborn & Little, amongst others.
In the late 1970s Smith relocated with his lover John Elliker to California, and again changed artistic direction, now working in book illustration under the name Paul Cline.
After Elliker died in 1987, Smith began to create a series of erotic drawings influenced by the medieval Dance of Death, and the resurrection of the genre by the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada
. These reflected his horror at the impact of AIDS on the homosexual community. Geraldine Norman, in her article in the Independent newspaper refers to them as 'terrifying' and states that they use 'a highly finished academic style, reminiscent of the fine drawing taught by 19th century French academies'. They were exhibited in the Rita Dean gallery in San Diego.
At this time Smith also lived a parallel life on the fringe of the hustler
community in Los Angeles. He became friendly with Rick Castro
and memorably appeared as Ambrose Sapperstein in his 1996 movie Hustler White
.
Smith's autobiography was published in 1996, which, he says, he wrote partly to refute some of the claims of Hebborn's own autobiographical work.
In 1997 Smith returned to London where he now lives. He continues to write, mainly poetry, and to create further tableaux drawings on death and homo-erotic themes.
Biography
Born in the East End, Smith attended Walthamstow art school where in 1956 he met and became the lover of Eric HebbornEric Hebborn
Eric Hebborn was a British painter and art forger and later an author.-Early life:Eric Hebborn was born in the London suburb of South Kensington to a Cockney family in 1934, although his mother was a gypsy. According to his autobiography, his mother beat him constantly as a child...
, who was to become a notorious art forger.
Smith moved on to the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
and Hebborn to the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
, but the couple stayed together for the next 13 years.
Upon Hebborn's return from a two-year stay in Italy after winning the Academy's Prix-de-Rome, the couple lived together in the run-down Cumberland Hotel in Highbury
Highbury
- Early Highbury :The area now known as Islington was part of the larger manor of Tolentone, which is mentioned in the Domesday Book. Tolentone was owned by Ranulf brother of Ilger and included all the areas north and east of Canonbury and Holloway Road. The manor house was situated by what is now...
. They set up business buying and selling art, and spent many hours scouring junk shops for bargains. They befriended Marie Gray, who owned a shop near Leicester Square
Leicester Square
Leicester Square is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. The Square lies within an area bound by Lisle Street, to the north; Charing Cross Road, to the east; Orange Street, to the south; and Whitcomb Street, to the west...
, and it was at her suggestion and from her stock that they used blank sheets of period paper upon which Hebborn could create original drawings, while Smith 'antiqued' them.
In 1963 they moved to Italy and opened a gallery, which attracted the attention of several of the art cognoscenti of the day. Notable amongst them was Sir Anthony Blunt
Anthony Blunt
Anthony Frederick Blunt , was a British art historian who was exposed as a Soviet spy late in his life.Blunt was Professor of the History of Art at the University of London, director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, Surveyor of the King's Pictures and London...
, who often stayed with the couple when visiting Rome.
Smith and Hebborn grew apart and in 1969 Smith returned to London. He moved into fabric and wallpaper design, creating stylised designs of trees, flowers, birds and animals for Jean Muir
Jean Muir
Jean Elizabeth Muir, CBE, FCSD was an English fashion designer .-History and early career:...
and Osborn & Little, amongst others.
In the late 1970s Smith relocated with his lover John Elliker to California, and again changed artistic direction, now working in book illustration under the name Paul Cline.
After Elliker died in 1987, Smith began to create a series of erotic drawings influenced by the medieval Dance of Death, and the resurrection of the genre by the Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada
José Guadalupe Posada
Jose Guadalupe Posada: was a Mexican cartoonist illustrator and artist whose work has influenced many Latin American artists and cartoonists because of its satirical acuteness and political engagement....
. These reflected his horror at the impact of AIDS on the homosexual community. Geraldine Norman, in her article in the Independent newspaper refers to them as 'terrifying' and states that they use 'a highly finished academic style, reminiscent of the fine drawing taught by 19th century French academies'. They were exhibited in the Rita Dean gallery in San Diego.
At this time Smith also lived a parallel life on the fringe of the hustler
Hustler
Hustler is a monthly pornographic magazine aimed at men and published in the United States. It was first published in 1974 by Larry Flynt. It was a step forward from the Hustler Newsletter which was cheap advertising for his strip club businesses at the time. The magazine grew from a shaky start to...
community in Los Angeles. He became friendly with Rick Castro
Rick Castro
Rick Castro is an American photographer, motion picture director and stylist whose work focuses on bondage and sado-masochistic sex.-Early life:Rick Castro was born in Los Angeles, California....
and memorably appeared as Ambrose Sapperstein in his 1996 movie Hustler White
Hustler White
Hustler White is a 1996 film by Bruce LaBruce and Rick Castro, a satiric black sex comedy about gay hustlers and their customers in Santa Monica, California. It stars Tony Ward and LaBruce in an addition to the Queer Cinema canon, which is also an homage to classic Hollywood cinema...
.
Smith's autobiography was published in 1996, which, he says, he wrote partly to refute some of the claims of Hebborn's own autobiographical work.
In 1997 Smith returned to London where he now lives. He continues to write, mainly poetry, and to create further tableaux drawings on death and homo-erotic themes.
Works
- Fools, clowns and jesters by Paul Cline, Green Tiger Press, 1984 ISBN 0914676881
- Mama, were you ever young? by John Williams Hay, Paul Cline and Judythe Sieck, Little Simon Press, 1989 ISBN 0881381349
- Amy and Nathaniel by Welleran Poltarnees and Paul Cline, Simon and Schuster, 1989 ISBN 0881381187
- Booboo's dream by Paul Cline and Judythe Sieck, Simon and Schuster, 1990 ISBN 0962526118
- My mothers' hands by Paul Cline and Sheila McGraw, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1991 ISBN 0962526126
- Ginger's moon by Paul Cline and Judythe Sieck, Green Tiger Press, 1991 ISBN 096252610X
- Grummit's day by Paul Cline and Patricia Graham Rogers, Simon and Schuster, 1991 ISBN 0962526134
- My father's hands by Sheila McGraw and Paul Cline, Aladdin Paperbacks, 1992 ISBN 0962526169
- The Angel who forgot by Elisa Bartone and Paul Cline, Simon and Schuster, 1992 ISBN 0671760378
- A Most memorable birthday by Welleran Poltarnees, Paul Cline and Judythe Sieck, Simon and Schuster, 1993 ISBN 0671778625
- Celebration: the autobiography of Graham David Smith by Graham David Smith, Mainstream, 1996 ISBN 1-85158-843-4