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Painter and teacher, born in Greenwich, southeast London, strongly influenced by German Expressionist art and orchestral music. After several jobs including working in an architect’s office, Green from 1952–4 attended the School of Art in Sidcup, Kent, where he eventually settled, influenced by Edward Eade. Having been accepted by the Royal College of Art in 1954 he was not able to start until 1955 as his pacifist leanings put him in prison for three months as a conscientious objector. Influenced by American Abstract Expressionism Green turned to making black abstracts, creating them by pouring and hurling bitumen paint on hardboard and treating the surface brutally, dragging a bicycle on it and setting it on fire. In 1957 Green was included in New Trends in British Art, Rome-New York Art Foundation, Rome; and Dimensions, British Abstract Art, 1948–57, O’Hana Gallery; and he was in Ken Russell’s film Making an Action Painting, which led to international coverage.

Text source: 'Artists in Britain Since 1945' by David Buckman (Art Dictionaries Ltd, part of Sansom & Company)


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