Bennett Oates was born in London in 1928. He had a broad interest in painting, and examples of his portraiture, landscape and animal paintings can be found in many private collections. However, it was his flower paintings that made his reputation. Now acknowledged as having been one of the finest ‘flower’ artists in the world, his draughtsmanship and technique can be compared with the best of the Dutch School. It was his combination of strong 'jewel-like' colours with white and pastel shades that produced the subtle quality and restrained taste that made his paintings so unique and highly sought after. At the age of 15, his first flower painting was accepted at the Royal Academy and he then went on to win a scholarship to the Royal College ...