William Cooper was affectionately known as Bill (or "WAC"). The artist joined the Geography Department of Sherborne School in Dorset in 1952. His career progressed from assistant master to Head of Department, Housemaster of Westcott House (now part of the International College) here he stayed for 15 years, and, following retirement in 1983 he served as a Governor of the school for 10 years. His life was a double one as he was already an exhibiting artist on arriva1 in Sherborne and had exhibited at the Royal Academy. Once he became a Housemaster he never picked up a brush except in the vacation periods. He used the Westcott Junior Dayroom as a studio during school holidays and began to specialise in collage. This medium brought him considerable success including election to the Royal West of England Academy, and a one man Exhibition at the Drian Gallery in London. Family holidays in St Ives, Spain and Portugal were the inspiration for many of his pictures which were developed back in the "studio" from on site sketches and notes.
Many of the works in the HOLT exhibition date from this period, 30 or more years ago and had never been seen outside the artists intimate circle. Since retirement he has relinquished collage in flavor of painting in oils or acrylic.
