My father, Alan Burgess, who has died aged 88, was a well-respected artist and art teacher, latterly at East Herts College, where he taught for nearly 30 years.
In 1957 Alan was selected for Young Contemporaries (now New Contemporaries), a show for emerging artists. His early abstract work changed to paintings of trees and landscapes after a move to Roydon, Essex, in the late 1960s.
In recent years, he became interested in multiples, capturing the same subject from different angles or grouping related subjects. These ranged from veteran oaks at Hatfield House to the view from Ruskin's bedroom over Coniston Water. His final exhibition, Mainly Multiples, at the Gibberd Gallery, Harlow, in 2024, celebrated this development.
Alan's biggest project was a grid of 50 oil paintings of each of the 50 "great British trees" chosen by the Tree Council to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's golden jubilee in 2002. Over a period of two years, Alan travelled around the UK painting the trees in situ, with the final work shown first at the Tree Council, London, (2004-05), then at various locations including the National Arboretum, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire (2005) and Boxfield Gallery, Stevenage (2012-13).
Born in West Mersea, Essex, Alan was the son of Rose (nee Rabbetts), who was in domestic service before marriage, and Herbert Burgess, a gardener.
His artistic talents emerged while still at the village school, after which he went to Colchester Royal grammar. He left after O-levels in 1953 but returned to education a year later, studying art and design at Colchester School of Art; then trained as an art teacher in Manchester. His national service was completed in the army education corps in Malaya where he learned Chinese painting techniques from a local artist (1958-60).
He embarked on teaching at Brook secondary school Loughton (1960-62). After a couple of years as voluntary teaching assistant Woodcroft special education school Epping Alan was appointed lecturer art design East Herts College now part Hertford Regional College (1964-92) where he was highly respected encouragement humour technical expertise allowing people find their own styles approaches.
Alan also had an active interest protecting countryside. He took leading roles several successful campaigns protect local green belt land development; led formation volunteer conservation group. He responsible planting numerous trees; was instrumental projects such reopening Blind Lane an ancient sunken path community orchard.
During retirement Alan ran art class St John's ARC Old Harlow. Central his life meditation practice; devoted many evenings School Meditation Holland Park London where supported mentored fellow practitioners.
In 1967 married Angela Godfrey sculptor. Alan survived Angela me.