Painter, teacher and exhibition organiser, born in London, who worked in oil and gouache. He studied at Wimbledon School of Art and Royal College of Art, 1951–5, teachers including Rodrigo Moynihan and Carel Weight. He gained a silver medal and edited Ark magazine. Became head of Colchester School of Art, 1964–75, faculty head, 1975, and dean of art and music at Colchester Institute, 1986–9. Was organiser for Ernst & Young annual exhibitions from 1986. As a painter of architectural and landscape themes in East Anglia and Provence, Atkinson showed at RA from 1950; Victoria & Albert Museum; NEAC; New Grafton and Leicester Galleries; and elsewhere. His solo shows included Leighton House; Minories, Colchester; Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury; Phoenix Gallery, Lavenham; and Coach House Gallery, Guernsey.