Adrian Heath was a pioneering 20th-century British painter whose work bridged the gap between British Constructivism and the St Ives School of abstract art. Known for his innovative approach to form, colour, and texture, Heath’s career was defined by his relentless exploration of abstraction and his passion for sharing his artistic vision with others.

Born in Burma in 1920, Adrian Heath moved to England at the age of five. His artistic journey began at the Newlyn School of Art, where he studied under Stanhope Forbes, one of the founding figures of British Impressionism. Heath furthered his education at the Slade School of Fine Art (1939, 1945–47), where he refined the skills and ideas that would define his career.

During World War II, Heath served in the Royal Air Force as a tail gunner in a Wellington bomber. Captured early in the war, he spent several years as a prisoner of war. Even in captivity, his dedication to art never wavered—he met and taught fellow detainee Terry Frost (1915–2003) to paint, inspiring Frost’s own journey to become one of the 20th century’s most celebrated abstract artists.