Neil Lawson Baker

Neil Lawson Baker (1938–2022) was a British artist, sculptor and photographer.

Early life Neil Lawson Baker was born in Watford and had two brothers, John Stewart and Colin James. He attended Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood, Middlesex. Lawson Baker then went on to practise at the 31 Wilton Place Practice where he became senior partner, continuing as a leading Dental Surgeon for a further 40 years, specialising in high quality restorative dentistry. He also founded The Oral Hygiene Centre at No 1 Devonshire Place in London's Harley Street area in 1978, believed to be the first truly preventive dental practice of its type, helping to pioneer preventive dentistry.

Eric became Baker's friend and mentor and took him to Paris to meet Charles Pinellis at the famous Susse-Fondeur foundry in Arcueil. Baker soon produced many bronze sculptures in the UK and France and was selling to private collectors, corporate clients and governments.

His works can be found in public places both in the UK and abroad. Lawson Baker sculptures may be seen in the entrance to the offices of the Houses of Parliament at Westminster; at British Gas Headquarters in Reading and Loughborough; in The London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange; near Albert Bridge at Sterling House on the River Thames and at the National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur.

Other roles

Baker chaired The National Open Art Competition (NOA) from 2006 - 2018 run by the Chichester Art Trust.

In 2018, he started the not-for-profit educational Bowdleflodes Project, whose mission is to help educate children across the world about the plight of endangered species using ART as the facilitating medium. The project houses an online 'fantasy' zoo with children's creative drawings, with each submission being linked to supporting endangered species, either in zoos or in wildlife support programmes.

Personal life

Neil Lawson Baker was married to Grace Lawson Baker, a psychotherapist and speech-and-language therapist. His studios are at their home near Chichester in West Sussex.

His hobbies over the years have included competing in vintage and classic car events and rallies, riding in one and three day equestrian events, pursuing his personal artistic interests, particularly as a sculptor, and travelling. In his last years he spent considerable time visiting schools, promoting the Bowdleflodes Project, reading his stories and helping children produce creative fantasy endangered species drawings and descriptions for the Bowdleflode online Wildlife Safari Park.