Sybil Atteck – Artist and Sculptor
Ms Atteck, on leaving Bishop Anstey, joined the Botanical Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, using her drawing skills to produce botanical renderings, some of which were shown at an exhibition as early as 1930. In 1934, she went to London to study at the Regent Street Polytechnic and continued her studies in the arts in 1942, at the Escuela Bellas Artes, in Lima, Peru, taking up Inca pottery as another aspect of her art. In 1943, Ms Atteck attended the School of Fine Arts, Washington University, St Louis, Missouri, under the tutelage of Max Beckmann, who had a profound effect on her work.
On her return to Trinidad, she mounted her first solo exhibition in Port of Spain and San Fernando. Despite strong criticism, her images and style form the nucleus of Trinidad’s first recognisable school which prevailed throughout the 1950’s and 60’s, influencing among others, Carlisle Chang, Willie Chen, Leo Glasgow and Nina Squires. Today Ms Atteck’s works adorn the reception lounge of the Trinidad Hilton and the Malick R.C. Church. In 1975, she was awarded the Chaconia Medal (Gold). Ms Sybil Atteck died in 1975.
