Painter, teacher and writer, born in Knighton, Radnorshire. Blockley left school at 13 and, at his parents’ insistence, served an engineering apprenticeship, after a number of jobs joining the United Kingdom Atomic Engineering Authority in 1952. Spent his spare time painting and, after a successful solo show in 1965, in 1974 began painting full-time, becoming known for rugged landscapes using an ever-developing technique. Was a member of the RI, serving on its council; PS, which he helped to revive, twice serving as its president; NEAC and RWA; also showing at RA and in the provinces. Pitman published his watercolour painting course as well as his book The Challenge of Watercolour, and he ran private classes. Among Blockley’s several other books was A Personal Record, an illustrated acount of a year in his life.
Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)