1951 to 1973

Bernard David Ollis, Born, April 1951, Bath, Somerset, UK. Only son of Kenneth and Lilian Ollis
Bernard's Father served in North Africa and Italy during World War II (Photograph: Naples May 27th 1944). Ken was a very keen sportsman with a skill and passion for football and table tennis.
Bernard grew-up in Weston village near Bath, seen here with his Weston All Saints school tie.
At the age of 11 he passed an entrance exam which included drawing himself combing his hair in the mirror. For the next 5 years he attended The Bath Art Secondary School. This was one of just a handfull of such specialist art schools in the UK where art and creativity formed the basis of all study. The school followed the educational aesthetic advocated by Sir Herbert Read (1893-1968) in his book Education Through Art (1943)
Fairground 1964 (aged 12) poster paint on paper 31 x 55cm
Piggy back with his Mother Lily on holiday in Jersey.
Tchaikovsky 1964 Poster paint on paper, 28 x 19cm
Still life with Orange and Lemon 1965 Powder paint on paper, 28 x 19cm
School Prospectus 1966, showing oxy-acetylene cutting, 16mm filming and sculpture from the yearly major Summer Exhibition
The Tunnel 1972, Acrylic on canvas, 154cm x 123cm
Bernard made several extensive tours across Europe. Pictured here next to Martin Lane's Mini with ceramacist Martin Hughes on a particlarly rough Bulgarian road
(Small) figures (three) 1972, Oil on canvas 76cm x 77cm
The label from the previous painting No 6 from a total of a portfolio of 9 submitted for Bernard's application to attend The Royal College of Art, London
Grieving 1973, Oil on calico 195cm x 120cm. Included in entrance portfolio for the Royal College of Art, London