Derek Collard (November 1936- December 2009) was an artist/illustrator specialising in linocut illustrations for children’s books. Having first found his artistic flare at Royal Liberty Grammar School in Romford, he studied art at South East Essex School of Art and went on to teach art at Eltham palace for the duration of his National Service. After teaching art at Coventry School of Art, in 1959 he was elected as a member of the Royal society of printmakers, etchers and engravers. His most prolific period of illustration was between 1964 and 1982 where in addition to a brief period working as a designer for Molins organisation and starting his own design company, he illustrated more than 70 published works ranging from religious text to children’s educational textbooks.

Despite Derek Collard’s artistic abilities and limited success as an illustrator, his private life was an ongoing tragedy that unfolded through a destructive sequence of one relationship failure after the next. Having inflicted a lifetime of heartbreak and despair on both himself and all those who knew and loved him, Derek Collard suffered a lonely and undignified death. Further compounding the double tragedy of his isolationist life and impoverished demise was the subsequent destruction of almost all of his original works of art, for which, every human relationship throughout his adult life had been laid to waste.

By documenting, contextualising and sharing Derek Collard's illustrations, The Collard Foundation will demonstrate that:

1 - No matter the circumstance, acceptance and forgiveness of parental failings, in conjunction with remembrance and celebration of parental success, will create a stronger foundation for achieving artistic excellence than choosing denial, ignorance or disconnection from, one's past.

2 - It is possible to stop other artists from falling foul of isolationist and self-destructive behavioural patterns by highlighting and sharing the exponential damage that was inflicted upon Derek Collard's potential for excellence, success and happiness by his incapacity to love, care and communicate with his family and friends.