Constance-Anne Parker (1921 - 2016)

RA Collection: People and Organisations

British artist and sculptor. Studied at the Royal Academy Schools from 1946-1951. While studying there won four silver and two bronze medals for landscape, portraits and life paintings and drawings. She also won the Landseer, David Murray and Leverhulme Scholarships. During this time she also took evening classes in modelling and carving at the Regent Street Polytechnic and won the sculpture medal and scholarship.

She exhibited paintings and sculptures with the New English Art Club, Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and the Royal Society of British Sculptors. She was elected a fellow of the latter in 1983.

She became part-time Assistant Librarian at the Royal Academy of Arts in January 1958, and went on to serve as Royal Academy of Arts Librarian from 1974 to 1986, the first woman to become an Officer of that institution.

From 1952 to 1976 Parker served as the honorary treasurer of the Reynolds Club, the alumni society of the RA Schools, and subsequently became its chairperson. She wrote several books on art including Mr. Stubbs, the horse painter. (London, 1971) and George Stubbs: art, animals & anatomy. (London, 1984). A retrospective exhibition of her sculptures was held in 1977 at the Belgrave Gallery in London.