Biography
David Morgan Thompson (b. Ryde, Isle of Wight, Hampshire, UK 1929 - d. Suffolk, UK 2019), was a writer (art critic for The Times for seven years), broadcaster and film-maker on visual arts subjects for over 40 years. He was director of the Institute of Comtemporary Arts (ICA), associate editor of Studio International and chairman of the Arts Council's exhibition committee. He was central to the exhibition Arte Inglese Oggi (English art today) took place at Palazzo Reale, Milan, from February to May 1976. It was co-organised by the British Council and the municipality of Milan, which set up a joint selection committee which included David Thompson who took the lead on Sculpture, and Norman Reid, who acted as president. Thompson was also on the Contemporary Art Society Executive Committee (1965-1972) and its elected buyer in 1969/70.
In later life he moved to Suffolk with his actress wife, Freda Dowie (1928-2019), and without any formal art training, he began painting in 1985. His studio was at his home “Hollies”, Love Lane, Westleton, Suffolk. He exhibited regularly with The Suffolk Group; Southwold Art Circle and the Ipswich Art Society, for which he was chairman for two years.
