Painter and teacher who initially chose an industrial career, attending Cambridge School of Art part-time from 1951–61, from 1973 painting and teaching art full-time. He worked primarily in oil, his pictures concerned with the relationship of objects and often accomplished against the light. The French Post-Impressionist Pierre Bonnard and Italian still life master Giorgio Morandi were influences. Palmer was elected ROI in 1978 and RBA in 1983. His pictures were often shown at the RA Summer Exhibition, RWA and NEAC and he was awarded many prizes. These included the K Scharf Prize at the ROI, 1983; Daler-Rowney Prize, 1984; De Laszlo Medal, for work of outstanding merit at the RBA, 1990; and the Alan Gourlay Prize at the ROI, 1992. Among Palmer’s solo exhibitions were Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn, 1980, and The Jerram Gallery, Salisbury, 1997, where he also contributed to mixed shows.