Henry Haig

Henry Haig
"Jubilation", (1972–73), Clifton Cathedral
Born	Henry Wylie Haig 1930 Hampstead, London
Died	6 December 2007 Yeovil
Nationality	British
Education	Wimbledon School of Art, Royal Academy of Art
Known for	stained glass, painting, sculpture
Movement	non-figurative modern art
Spouse(s)	Joan Salmon

Henry Haig (1930 – 6 December 2007), was an English abstract artist, painter and sculptor but notable predominantly for his stained glass work.

Born in Hampstead in 1930, Henry's talent was recognised and encouraged by Jack Fairhurst, his art teacher at Richmond and East Sheen County School for Boys. A visit to Wimbledon School of Art at the age of fifteen led to an immediate offer of a place. Haig studied painting and sculpture there for five years until called for national service in 1949. He refused an officer's commission on completion, preferring to return to his art studies. He applied for a place in the painting school of the Royal College of Art but accepted an invitation to the stained glass department, led by Lawrence Lee. Haig was at RCA between 1952 and 1955, and, having met fellow student Joan Salmon during this time, they were married on New Year’s Day, 1956. The couple went on to have five children.

One of Haig's earliest public works is the concrete, glass and granite chip frieze in the booking hall of South Ruislip station. Thought by some to date from the 1948 construction of the station, others date it at 1961.

Both Joan and Henry went into teaching. Henry taught at Kingston College of Art and, whilst there, received a commission for St Richard's Church in Ham, London, under construction in 1964–65. Henry created fourteen dalle de verre windows inspired by the life of St Richard. Haig also painted the sacristy door panels which are faced with enamels, gold and silver fused onto sheet steel, the left door depicting the Bishop's chalice and the right evoking the "shimmer at the entrance to Paradise". The sculpted wood, copper and gilt processional cross and candlesticks are also Haig's work.