Painter and teacher, born and died in Birmingham, where he studied at the College of Art, 1946–51, then taught part-time for a few years (also taught extra-mural classes for a short time while living in London). His initial success was in the first John Moores Liverpool Exhibition, 1957–8, with his impressive oil on hardboard Still-Life, Kitchen Sink, acquired by the Walker Art Gallery. Venton’s was a fine talent that withered due to lack of encouragement. He took part in Six Painters in the late 1950s, which toured from the RBSA galleries, and he had a solo exhibition at Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, in 1966, his last major showing. This had a poor review, and Venton’s diffidence, periods of depression and lack of commercial gallery interest meant that he did not show much latterly, although he continued to paint.