Peter Knight, who passed away on Tuesday, drew inspiration from the marine landscape and had a fascination with the ever-changing coastline.
Fellow Island artists said that he would be remembered as a great supporter of the arts and a fantastic teacher.
In an interview with the JEP in 2010, Mr Knight explained that while his pictures had an abstract edge, they were based on actual locations.
‘I sketch on site and take photos and work from them,’ he said. ‘You can always tell where the picture is, but I am always looking for pattern and shape. I don’t invent them – particularly the skies. People say they don’t look like that, but they do.
‘I just up the colours and shape and make them vibrant and strong.’
Although Mr Knight was best known for his striking landscapes which were regularly exhibited in Island galleries, he also experimented with various media and styles.
Mr Knight was head of creative arts at Grainville School and after retiring from the St Saviour secondary taught A-level photo media part-time at Hautlieu. He said that he found young people to be a great inspiration and always challenged them to experiment in their creative endeavours.
Fellow former art teacher Pat Robson, who runs the Harbour Gallery in St Aubin, said that Mr Knight had been ‘an amazing help’ when the gallery was set up 15 years ago as he would both recommend artists and help hang exhibitions.
‘His contribution to art in Jersey was very important, not just people buying his work but to the schools,’ she added. ‘When you study GCSE art you have to study artists and if you cannot get off the rock you turn to local artists. Peter was always so helpful and supportive.’
She said that many generations of Island students found inspiration in his work ‘because they got it’.
Fellow artist Ian Rolls said that his style was often contrasted with that of Mr Knight.
‘I always thought of him as Mr Straight and I was Mr Wobbly,’ he explained.
‘He was just a great teacher and a great communicator. That was his special quality. He was a teacher for many years and was very supportive of the arts and artists generally. He will be sorely missed.’
