From humble beginnings as a potteries apprentice Arnold Machin rose to become an acclaimed sculptor creating the iconic bas-relief portrait of Her Majesty the Queen used on all Royal Mail definitive issue stamps.
Patricia Machin was born in 1921 and studied painting at Goldsmith's where her tutor was Leonard Applebee. Finding inspiration from the Old Masters and still-life, she was an established painter, illustrator, designer and author.
Architect, sculptor, businessman and painter, Francis Machin was a talented designer responsible for a range of conservatories and garden buildings still seen throughout the United Kingdom, United States and Europe.
The Machin Arts Foundation supports the advancement of the education of the public in figurative art, in particular of the work of Arnold Machin OBE RA, Patricia Machin and Francis Machin.
On this site you can find background information on each of the artists, details about projects we support and are involved in, and some of the figurative artists we currently support.
The Foundation curates the Machin Collection and Archive including the original drawings, designs and sculptures used by Arnold Machin in his work on decimal coinage the Definitive Issue postage. We support exhibitions around the United Kingdom with loans and access to our collection.
The Foundation also supports talented figurative artists with access to studio space, mentoring and financial asisstance.
Free Life Drawing Classes !
Are you a full time London BA Fine Art or Foundation art Student ? Did you know there are free life drawing classes available at the Arnold Machin's Studio ?
Classes run on Thursday evenings from 20 September to 22nd November and are on a first come first served basis. The classes were setup and are run by the Prince's Drawing School with some financial support from the Machin Arts Foundation.
For more details see the Kensington Palace Studios website, or for details about other courses see New Studio.
Machin Studio by Alex Cree