biography

DERYK PARKIN


Deryk Parkin trained as an architect at Sheffield University with the intention of eventually becoming a stage designer so combining his two great passions, Art and Theatre. On completing his course he began working for a firm of architects and was soon convinced that architecture was not to be his chosen career when his third building collapsed. To save face and the safety of the nation he decided to pursue his interest in the theatre. A chance sighting by an agent of his performance in a late night revue at the Edinburgh Festival led to his first professional engagement as an actor and for the next 40 years he successfully “trod the boards”, painting and exhibiting during his periods of “resting”.
His long association with the Players theatre of London led to engagements around the world in such fascinating places as Hawaii,the Philippines,Egypt, Brazil etc..He would extend his stay in these exotic locations , sketching and absorbing the colour and atmosphere, not to mention the suitcases full of interesting drift wood with which he would return to his studio. The results of these escapades are to be seen in his permanent and ever changing exhibition in his own private gallery - THE STABLES STUDIO AND SCULPTURE GARDEN in Hove East Sussex.
As his paintings incorporating the driftwood became more and more three dimensional, the natural progression was to develop his love of sculpture. This was influenced when he adopted an eight year old boy,Lovemore, out in Zimbabwe resulting in him spending long periods in that beautiful country. He began collecting Shona sculpture and was eventually taught by Antony Sarireni, one of the three Zimbabwean sculptors with whom he now shares his workshop and studio.