Arthur Ralph Middleton Todd

1891 - 1966

Born at Helston, Cornwall, A.R.M. Todd was the son of the Newlyn artist Ralph Todd.  He studied initially under Stanhope Forbes and then at the Central School of Arts and Crafts.  After War Service with the Motor Transport Section of the RASC he attended the Slade School of Art (1920-21) before travelling to Italy, France and Holland.

Todd was head of Department at Leicester School of Art between 1936 and 1939 and then became the Master of Life Class at Regent Street Polytechnic.  From 1946 to 1949 he taught at the Royal Academy, and his last teaching appointment was the City & Guilds School, Kensington 1950-1956.

“What I gained most from Todd was a better understanding of tonal qualities.  He had a wonderful feeling for tone and colour.  He saw things in a very subtle way.  His harmony of colours was delightful.  Pastel as a medium suited him because he loved the muted colour.  His great love was Degas ….!

Roland Batchelor RWS

His work is held in several Public Collections including the Tate, the V & A, the Ashmolean and the Royal Academy.