Ian Pope

Ian Wilson-Pope is a self-taught artist based in South Croydon. After completing A-Level Art in 1989, Ian's career path started in Banking.  After eight years, he left the world of finance and studied Music and Singing at Trinity College of Music for six years, before pursuing a freelance career as a professional opera singer before retiring in 2019. He came back to painting in May 2018, and shortly after joined Caterham Art Group and Old Coulsdon Art Society (he is the current President of OCAS). He specialises in male figurative work and portraiture, but also paints still life, landscapes, animals and some abstract work, and prefers to use water-mixable oils, but also works in acrylic and watercolour. He recently took over from Stephen Hawkins as a temporary tutor at OCAS, before June Lloyd was appointed as Stephen's replacement in September 2025.  Ian was invited to become tutor for Old Coulsdon's Painting for Pleasure Group in April '25, and has recently started his own Painting for Wellness classes in South Croydon. His work is heavily influenced by Greek Mythology and Old Master paintings, and drawing is at the heart of all his painting.

Instagram: @iandavidpope