Wakefield who became a great friend. It was through Margaret Potter that George met his first wife May Codlin. They had a son Paul who became a graphic designer in his own right. The marriage broke down after some years and George moved to his sisters. He continued to work as a graphic designer setting up a very successful design studio with David Caplin. During this time 1950's George was introduced to his second wife Kate, by an old friend Jimmy Neal. Kate Ablett worked as both an artists model and a fully qualified art restorer at a small firm near Norwich. She was also an artist in her own right producing still life in the primitive style. They got married and purchased a house in Great Bardfield called Vine Cottage. It was in fact three buildings one being an old smithy which George converted into a studio. On there arrival to the village Edward Bawden introduced himself welcoming them to the community. The village had become a magnet for a number of like minded artists these included, Michael & Duffy Rothenstein, John Aldridge, Bernard Cheese, Marianne Straub, and Edward & Charlotte Bawden. It was in fact Michael Rothenstein who taught George the etching process.
This first image is an etching called kissing tree it's from the early part of the 50's and after some years of learning the process. It is among one of the first groups of etchings he produced that he was happy with as it took some time to perfect the skills required. It actually came about as a result of a trip George & kate took with the Potters. They were sitting around a table after having supper. Alick asked Kate “Had she ever been to Wales” Kate replied 'no'. The next moment they were all piling into the Potters Austin Severn which has to be one of the smallest family cars ever made, and so sardine like they all headed at ten in the evening! for Wales. Gorsfach is the name of a cottage the Potters had purchased some years earlier. When one looks at Kissing Tree with its abstract form, it is in fact five different views all placed together. Its layout conveys immediately his graphic background with its balanced approach.