Desmond Paul Henry – Artwork and Bio of the British Artist

Desmond Paul Henry was a British computer artist born on 5 July 1921 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire. From a young age, Henry was fascinated with art and dreamt of being the next Leonardo Da Vinci. Additionally, he loved technology and mechanical devices. Before the start of World War II, Henry attended evening art classes and worked on developing his style.

During the war, Henry served as a technical clerk in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, where he had exposure and close-up contact with various machines. When the war ended, Henry studied Philosophy at the University of Leeds and later taught at the University of Manchester.

In the early-1950s, Henry purchased an analog bombsight computer, a device used to enhance accurate bombing by fighter jets. By tweaking the components of the bombsight, Henry created the first drawing machine, which he reconstructed to create two more versions. In 1962, he exhibited his first machine drawings at the Salford Gallery in London.

Consequently, Henry participated in several reputable shows, including the 1968 Cybernetic Serendipity Art and Technology exhibition at the Institute of Contemporary Art in London. Henry is renowned as the pioneer of computer art and a leading contributor to the development of computer graphics. He died on 24 October 2004 in Manchester, Lancashire.

What was Desmond Paul Henry Known For?

Henry was known for creating abstract, curvilinear visual effects with a drawing machine. Henry’s drawing machine relied on chance, which the artist referred to as mechanical fractals. Initially, he used a biro to create these drawings but eventually switched to technical tube pens which contained Indian ink.