The Charles Tunnicliffe Society Established 2005 "To promote greater awareness of the life and work of Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe OBE, RA  1901-1979"

C F Tunnicliffe - A Short Biography



Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe was born and bred on the land and spent the
first nineteen years of his life in the beautiful countryside of East Cheshire.

After studying at the Macclesfield School of Art he won a scholarship
to the Royal College of Art in London, gaining his teaching diploma and a
further scholarship to study in the RCA's new Etching and Engraving School.

His excellent work gained his diploma with distinction, in 1923.
He stayed on in London to develop a career as an etcher and engraver,
producing some of his finest work during this time.

In 1928 he returned to Macclesfield, earning his living mainly from
commercial artwork, much of it from the farming industry.
 
Charles Tunnicliffe had a long association with Henry Williamson
illustrating such famous novels as Tarka the Otter, Salar the Salmon
and the Peregrine's Saga, along with a further five other titles.

In the early 1940's he took up a post at Manchester Grammar School,
as a teacher of Art - he visited Anglesey during his holdiday breaks.

He was a regular contributor to the Royal Academy and was elected as an
associate in 1944, becoming a Royal Academician in 1954.  He took great
pride in exhibiting his work at the Royal Academy, and in 1974 his work
was shown in a much acclaimed personal “Members Exhibition” at the RA.

Charles and his wife Winifred moved from Cheshire to Anglesey in 1947,
to live at Shorelands in Malltraeth, where he lived until his death in 1979.

He was very skilled artist in a wide range of media and his work was
used to illustrate many magazine articles, books and advertisements. 
He created a superb personal collection of measured drawings of birds
and was a major contributor to RSPB Bird Notes.

He also took on many private commissions.

Charles Tunnicliffe was a very special man who worked extremely hard and
loved his work.  His output was prodigious, but he will also be remembered
for his exceptional kindness, modesty and generosity.

The RSPB awarded him its Gold Medal in 1975 and
he was also honoured with an OBE in 1978.

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