Govinder Nazran News, Tributes following his death Dec 25th 2008

Written by

Cat Art, Contemporary Art, Govinder Nazran

We continue to get many phone calls and emails regarding the tragic passing away of UK contemporary artist Govinder Nazran on Christmas Day 2008.

(Leopold by Govinder Nazran)

It touches me that so many people are so heart felt about his passing: some may have met him only once at a gallery appearance and others had never met him and enjoyed his work through viewing his images online or having bought pieces over the years.

From my experience, those that collected his art varied from young students right up to retired people and that is a testament as to how his work â€˜connectedâ€™ with so many different types of people.

I was digging in the archives and found a snippet that charts, all be it briefly, his career from 1980, where he started his studies in Graphic Design, up to being signed by Washington Green in 1999 and becoming as a professional artist. These are his own words:

(Willy Winterbottom by Govinder Nazran)

â€œMy art training began in Bradford in the North of England, where I studied Graphic Design from 1980-1983. After that I then went on to study for a Higher Diploma in Graphic Design, specialising in illustration, at Lincoln Art College.

Once I completed all my formal training I decided to move to London, approaching all of the major city publishers with my portfolio. It was there that I worked on illustrations for childrenâ€™s books, and after 6 months moved to Cambridge where I continued working as a freelance illustrator.

Upon moving back to my home town of Saltaire in West Yorkshire, I took up the position of designer for a greetings card company, which involved all aspects of product design and development. Following that I became a photographic art director, directing fashion shoots all over the world. I did this for the next year or so until 1993, when I decided to swap my hectic photographic job and lifestyle, for a quieter life back in Saltaire. I spent the next five years here, working freelance on card designs with major publishing companies.

It wasnâ€™t until 1999 that I decided to enter the fine art market and approached Washington Green with my portfolio.”

(Elvis, Sculpture by Govinder Nazran)

Over Govinderâ€™s near 10 year career with Washington Green, they have published over 180 of his work, including sculptures and more recently his work has been put into cufflink designs.

I would say Govinder has been one of the top 5 published artists of the last 10 years

He will be sadly missed but never forgotten.

Messages of condolence may be sent to his publisher at C/O:

Jo Colley,
Washington Green,
44 Upper Gough Street,
Birmingham,
B1 1JL
United Kingdom

Thank you

James

What is Contemporary Art?, See Links below:
-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contemporary_art
-Article 1
-Article 2

Comments

11 responses to “Govinder Nazran News, Tributes following his death Dec 25th 2008”

January 7, 2009

Adam Bojarski

‘It is often the brightest star that burns for the shortest time’

Words cannot express the depth of sadness I feel at this time. A tragic loss. My thoughts and prayers are with his lovely wife, my friend, Sarah and her daughter Eden. May his memory never be forgotten.

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January 11, 2009

Karen Smith

It stopped me in my tracks. He was by far my most favourite artist and I have several pieces of his work. I am a year 6 primary teacher and currently my classroom walls are festooned with images of his work – the children love him and will be very sad when I tell them on Monday.

Recently, I have acquired a new granddaughter called ‘Ruby’. I had spoken with my son about Govinder’s picture ‘Ruby Tuesday’ and, as I already have ‘Happy Monday’, we discussed trying to obtain ‘Ruby Tuesday’. Under the circumstances, I would now like to obtain this piece more than ever.

No longer will we be able to await his inspiring new works, a terrible loss.

Karen

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January 16, 2009

Mel Haigh

My deepest condolances to Sarah and Eden.
I am not a material person and have never collected anything until i came across Govinder art some years ago. His work has given me and my family so much delight, and is so widely commented on by visitors to our home. I feel so privalledged to have met him once and that his art pieces have, and will continue to do so, grace my home and give my family so much pleasure.
May he rest in peace.
Mel

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January 18, 2009

Elaine

I was absolutely devastated to hear about the tragic and untimely loss of this extremely talented and lovely man. I had the pleasure of meeting him in 2007 and chatted to him for about half an hour about his paintings and sculptures. I bought his very first published painting ‘Catwalk’ in 2000, closely followed by ‘Spider’ and have been collecting his paintings and sculptures ever since.
My collection is more precious than ever to me now.
Words cannot express my sorrow. My thoughts are with Sarah and Eden.
Elaine

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January 21, 2009

Barbara Watkins

I was shocked to learn, by accident, that Govinder had passed away. I met him about three years ago in London and thought what a polite and unassuming man he was. I have three of his original paintings which I cherish very much.He is a great loss to us all.

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January 27, 2009

Emma

We have just received a letter from The Original Art Shop informing us of Govinders passing. Needless to say we are shocked at the news. We never had the pleasure of meeting him but understand from others who have that he was a kind, quiet and thoughtful man. My husband and I own 3 of his paintings and adore each one in its own right.
Our thoughts & prayers go out to his family. It may be a small comfort to know that his talents were appreciated by many and his passing is a huge loss.

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February 22, 2009

Katie

I only found out today & burst into tears in my local art dealers…I am in shock. Long live Govinder’s work & I hope that his family can take comfort in everyone’s kind words.
What a great loss.

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February 28, 2009

Jacqueline McCann-Lewis

Yesterday I received a letter from the Gallery informing me that Govinder had passed away. I am totally shocked and devastated. I met him a couple of years ago and he signed his book for me. Govinder was lovely and an amazing artist. My heart goes out to Sarah & Eden, I look at my Govinder paintings and sculptures everyday and my thoughts will be with them always x

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April 15, 2009

David Collins

Only heard the sad news today as I sold my Gallery,a few miles away from Govinders home 3 years ago. Deeply saddened . We sold many of his works and I know every purchaser will share my great sense of loss of such a unique talent and good person.
On behalf of them and myself we send our best wishes to Sarah and Eden.

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May 2, 2009

Mat Phillips

I have just heard this tragic news. I am an avid collector with many of his pieces throughout our home. My wife and I met him in Windsor last year and we laughed at my ill placed comment of “how many of these can you rattle out then!”… he called me a c***! A fair point!

If only we all could leave behind so many visual reminders upon our demise.

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August 16, 2009

Roxanne Guy

My husband and I discovered Govinder’s work by accident and fell in love with the originality and quirkiness of it. Like the man himself, his work may have many imitators, but there was and only will be, one Govinder. A huge loss but his art shines on in our house. . . . .

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