The British art world mourns the loss of David Heathcote, a multifaceted artist, respected art historian, and dedicated teacher, who has died at the age of 94. Heathcote's remarkable career was defined by his own vibrant artistic practice and his pivotal work in documenting and preserving the traditional crafts of the Hausa people in Nigeria.
An Artistic Life Forged in Africa
Heathcote's artistic journey was profoundly shaped by his years in Africa. After studying at the prestigious Slade School of Fine Art in London in the 1950s—a time when tutors included Lucian Freud and fellow students were Paula Rego and Frank Auerbach—he moved to teach, first in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and then in northern Nigeria.
It was at Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria, Nigeria, where he served as head of art history, that his scholarly passion took root. Recognising that valuable skills were disappearing, he began extensively interviewing Hausa craft workers and amassing a significant collection of their work throughout the late 1960s and 70s.
This collection, which included embroidered dress (the subject of his PhD), clothing, leatherwork, and other crafts, was later largely acquired by the British Museum. Comprising around 400 objects, it remains a vital resource for scholars today. His research was showcased in major exhibitions like The Art of the Hausa at London's Commonwealth Institute in 1976.
A Prolific and Joyful Creative Practice
Parallel to his academic work, Heathcote was a prolific artist. His time in Africa infused his own creative output, which was wonderfully diverse. While painting was his primary medium, he also worked extensively in sculpture, using bronze and stone, and created surreal ad hoc assemblages, collages, and drawings.
His style was joyful, vivid, and often dream-like, blending expressionist and occasional abstract elements. He exhibited at significant venues including the Museum of Mankind in London in 1989 and various galleries in London, Paris, and Nigeria. Examples of his work are held in the collection of his alma mater, the Slade, and Canterbury Christ Church University—where he taught for many years—displays three of his sculptures.
From Kent to the World
Born in London in 1929, David Heathcote spent his childhood in Kent, attending Faversham Grammar School. He and his older brother witnessed the Battle of Britain from their garden. His artistic path began seriously at Canterbury College of Art, using a converted chicken shed as his studio.
After national service in the RAF and his transformative period at the Slade, his career as a teacher took him abroad. He married Janet Low in Bulawayo in 1968, and they moved together to Nigeria. The family returned to England in 1979, settling in Canterbury, where Heathcote became a senior lecturer and a beloved, intellectually curious mentor.
In retirement from 1996, he painted, sketched, or drew every single day, a testament to a lifelong dedication to art. David Heathcote is survived by his wife, Janet, and his three daughters, Marina, Larissa (Heidi), and Vanessa.
