Biographical information
Biography
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Biographical Timeline

1912. Born 30th June in Wealdstone, Middlesex.
1913. Moved to Mumbles, near Swansea with mother and brother Endell.
1923. Attends Mumbles Grammar School.
1928. Joins the Little Theatre, Swansea. Met Dylan Thomas.
1930. Went to St Ives with Endell Mitchell to renovate aunt's cottages and set up a market garden at Balnoon, Halsetown. Begins to paint more seriously. Makes regular visits back to Wales.
1932. Continues with market garden with brother Endell. Met St Ives artists.
1935. Summer job in St Ives. Met Jane Stevens. Travels to Gibraltar and Tangier with Endell to paint.
1938. Endell marries and moves to Castle Inn, St Ives. Denis continues gardening and begins painting landscapes.
1939. Denis and Jane Mitchell marry at Towednack Parish Church.
1940. Birth of daughter Jennifer
1942-45. War service in Geevor Tin Mine. Met Bernard Leach and Adrian Stokes through the Home Guard.
1945. Birth of second daughter Denise.
1946-48. Market gardening, sea fishing and painting landscapes. Member of St Ives Society of Artists.
1947. Exhibits work at Downings bookshop in Fore Street and the Castle Inn.
1949-59. Principal assistant to Barbara Hepworth.
1949. Founder member Penwith Society of Arts in Cornwall. Began to make own sculpture.
1953. Visited exhibition of pre-Columbian and Mexican art at Tate Gallery.
1955. Birth of third daughter Judith.
1955-57. Chairman Penwith Society of Arts.
1957-60. Porthia Prints.
1959. Left Barbara Hepworth. First sculptures in bronze.
1960-67. Part-time teaching Redruth School of Art and Penzance Grammar School.
1966. Arts Council award. Bronzes, woodcarvings, slate reliefs.
1967. Left teaching to sculpt full-time.
1967. Moved studio to join John Wells at the Trewarveneth Studio in Newlyn.
1968. Foreign Office commission Zelah I (bronze), for University of the Andes, Colombia.
1968. Zelah 2 exhibit of the Month, National Art Gallery of New Zealand.
1969. Moved to La Pietra in Newlyn.
1970. Lecture tour of Colombia including a month teaching at the University of the Andes at Bogota.
1973. Governor Plymouth College of Art and Design.
1973-79. British Council tour of work.
1974. Council of Management, Newlyn Orion. New series of slate carvings.
1977. Governor Falmouth School of Art.
1980-92. Continues working at Trewarveneth Studios with Tommy Rowe.
1993. Dies 23rd March

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