Captain Dennis Adams

Service Number: VX93486

Description

Dennis Adams was born in Sydney in 1914 and received his artistic training at the Royal Art Society School, Sydney, from 1931 to 1934. In 1935 he went to London and studied at the Royal Academy until 1938. Training in maritime practice and history led to a specialisation in marine painting and he had also served on the sailing ship, 'Herzogin Cecilie' prior to the Second World War. Adams was serving as a camouflage designer with the Department of Home Security when in 1942 he was appointed an Official War Artist. He was commissioned to portray the activities of the Royal Australian and United Stated navies and the Merchant Marine in the South-West Pacific Area. Adams was assigned to the Australian and New Guinea theatres of war from 1942-43. In 1943 he worked in Middle Eastern and European theatres, concentrating particularly on the activities of RAAF aircrews in Britain. He was transferred to the Mediterranean and British operational areas in 1944. In the last stages of the war he recorded the surrender ceremonies in Rabaul and Japan, as well as the activities of the allied occupation forces. In post-war years Adams has continued a close association with the Australian War Memorial, executing a number of paintings, sculptures, and a large mural depicting the ships of the Royal Australian Navy. From 1947 to 1966 he taught at the National Art School in Sydney and concentrated on his commissions for the Australian War Memorial. Adams died in 2001 and is represented by over 450 works in the Memorial's collection.