John Craxton : a life of gifts

'I hate the navy, but I LOVE sailors': Painter John Craxton escaped the oppressive homophobia of post-war Britain by moving to Greece. It cost him his fame, but he didn't care: both his art and his sexuality flourished. Ian Collins details the life of John Craxton in an evocative new biography: The artist picked up soldiers and sailors every night after arriving in post-war Greece and he had an affair with Margot Fonteyn, which didn't last because he was drawn to men. Born into a large, musical, and bohemian family in London, the British artist John Craxton (1922-2009) has been described as a Neo-Romantic, but he called himself a 'kind of Arcadian'. His early art was influenced by Blake, Palmer, Miró, and Picasso. After achieving a dream of moving to Greece, his work evolved as a personal response to Byzantine mosaics, El Greco, and the art of Greek life. This book tells his adventurous story for the first time. At turns exciting, funny, and poignant, the saga is enlivened by Craxton's ebullient pictures. Ian Collins expands our understanding of the artist greatly?including an in-depth exploration of the storied, complicated friendship between Craxton and Lucian Freud, drawing on letters and memories that Craxton wanted to remain private until after his death.