Derek Morris, who has died at the age of 85, was born in 1940 in Birmingham, England, and grew up in an intensely creative family. His father was a craftsman/sculptor, his mother an embroiderer and his sister a silversmith turned jeweller. Derek studied Fine Art at Newcastle, where Victor Pasmore and Richard Hamilton taught the Basic Course, which inspired a number of students to later become abstract artists. He graduated in 1963 with a first class degree in Fine Art. After a short period on the staff there, he moved to Norwich to take up a post at the Art School. There, Derek developed a degree-level sculpture course and it became a first-choice college during the 70s and 80s.
A long-time resident of Elm Hill, in 2008, Derek joined Anthony Barnes, Kate Weaver and friends developing the project of Hungate Medieval Art. He was a trustee when we took on and renovated the empty church and supported its vesting with Norwich Historic Churches Trust. As co-curator of our first contemporary art exhibitions he helped set our approach to programming both contemporary and historic shows. Despite his declining health in recent years Derek remained a strong supporter of Hungate, and a regular visitor, and in August 2024 we were delighted to be able to host a retrospective of his work, alongside that of his ex-student, old friend, and collaborator Bob Catchpole. We will remember Derek with admiration, affection and gratitude, and our deepest sympathies go to Christina and all his friends and family.
