A WELL known Ipswich artist and former art critic for The Evening Star has died at the age of 91.Colin Moss known as a considerable talent in the art world and was also a lecturer at the Ipswich Art School in the 1960s died on December 16 after several years of poor health.

A WELL known Ipswich artist and former art critic for The Evening Star has died at the age of 91.

Colin Moss known as a considerable talent in the art world and was also a lecturer at the Ipswich Art School in the 1960s died on December 16 after several years of poor health.

Mr Moss used to live in Westwood Avenue, in Ipswich, but in recent years had lived at the Anchor Trust Retirement Home in the town.

Although born in Ipswich, his family moved to Plymouth when he was young and at 16 he went to Plymouth Art College.

But he returned to the town as an adult where he was a teacher for 32 years at Ipswich Art School, now part of Suffolk College.

During the years he taught he also ploughed his own energies into becoming one of Suffolk's most highly regarded painters of the 20th century, holding many exhibitions in the region.

In 1980 he became an art critic for The Star for 14 years and later for her sister paper the East Anglian Daily Times.

Ken Rice, former editor for The Evening Star, said: “Colin had all the qualities required of a credible critic.

“Essentially he knew his subject as well as anyone, in all its forms of both style and media, after years of theoretical and practical experience as a lecturer in the art at the Suffolk College.

“As an artist himself of considerable talent, he wrote as one who had been there, who knew the demands of preparing selected works for exhibition alongside his peers and of having entire exhibitions devoted exclusively to his own work.

“His criticism was always constructive, his praise significant, which made his regular contributions much sought after by the region's art lovers, as well as exponents of visual art.

“I count myself fortunate to have had Colin as my art critic through my 14 years of editor of The Evening Star.”

Official artist for the British Olympics team, Kevin Whitney, was one of Mr Moss' former students at the Ipswich Art School in the 1960s.

He said: “Being taught by Colin was one of those eras in my life that changed my life.

“Thanks to lecturers such as him I got a place at the Chelsea Art school and later went on to work for the Olympics. The rest, as they say, is history.

“It is a phenomenal shame he has died and a pity the art school has gone.

“It was a revolutionary school that completely changed many people's lives.

“It was the only one of its kind at the time and Colin was keen to let us know how lucky we all were to be there.

“I think many of his former students will be sad to hear the news he has died.”

Funeral arrangements have yet to be announced.

n. Do you remember Colin Moss? Send your tributes to Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk