Daniel Cromer

“I am an artist, a painter by choice. Happily, I am able to paint almost every day. I have done so since about the age of 4. That would be in 1937, even before kudzu.” Born July 25th, 1933, in Spartanburg, S.C. to William Erskine and Evelyn White Cromer, Daniel Erskine Cromer was known for having been amongst the vanguard of modern American advertising in Europe. After an early, award-winning period as an art director on Madison avenue, he was encouraged in 1965 to apply for a position at Benton and Bowles, London, where he spent the next twenty years creating and developing some of the most iconic ad campaigns of the period. These involved well-known individuals, such as the champion boxer Henry Cooper, world cup football player Kevin Keegan and the actor Cary Grant. He went on to set up his own agency, Nadler, Larimer and Cromer, which thrived well after his retirement from advertising in 1985. A veteran of the Korean war, Daniel attended several art schools, and holds an Honors degree from the Art Center School in Los Angeles. When he moved to England in 1965, he traveled extensively as a professional artist, painting and exhibiting internationally.   His one-man shows include: The John Whibley Gallery, London; Upper Grosvenor Gallery, London; Washington Square Annual, New York; Allied Galleries, New York; Easthampton Gallery; New York; The Gallery, Spartanburg, S.C. (Retrospective); The Quinlan Art Center, Gainesville, Ga. (Retrospective and Artist in Residence); The Tryon Fine Arts Center, Tryon, N.C.; Wofford College, Spartanburg, S.C. (Retrospective). Numerous awards include:  New York Art Directors Club Gold Medal; American Institute of Graphic Arts; New York Type Directors Club; Designers and Art Directors Association, London; California Watercolor Society; Spartanburg Museum of Art Historical Competition (1st prize, two years); Spartanburg Museum of Art Annual Sidewalk Show (1st prize); South Carolina State Fair; Piedmont Interstate Fair; Beaufort Art Association Annual (Award of Excellence); Piccolo Spoleto (2000); South Carolina Watercolor Society (Traveling Show). In 1993, he returned to South Carolina making his home in Spartanburg and Beaufort, where he was an active exhibiting artist. He lectured and taught at the Spartanburg Art Museum School (SAM) and held various regional workshops. Daniel is a “Member with Excellence” in the South Carolina Watercolor Society and served as Exhibition Chairman for the year 2000. During his leisurely years at the beach with devoted wife Becky, when Cromer wasn’t painting LowCountry landscapes or entertaining friends and neighbors, he could be found scavenging the forlorn seafront for Indian pottery shards, bone tools, mini-balls and arrow points. Wherever he lived, throughout his life, Daniel kept his own art studio, exhibiting and painting until his final illness. “There is, however, a common denominator, a basic thread, running through my work: that is an emotional, often passionate involvement with the subject matter, plus the enduring fact that all my work has its origins or conclusions in landscape and my personal experience with natural wonders.” Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother David Cromer.  Surviving sisters are Martha Gail Cromer Roper of Inman, and Cathy Cromer McMillan of Campobello. Daniel is also survived by his wife of 25 years, Rebecca “Becky” Bullington, who, together, have been members of the John Nicholson Sunday School Class of Trinity United Methodist Church. Surviving children Cristina Cromer, Melissa Cromer Frederikse (Tom), and son Thomas Cromer (Nicole); adoring step-children Alice Pack-Beresford, Libba Taylor McCullough (Tim), Bill Taylor (Renee), Ben Taylor (Christine) and Paul Taylor (Crystal); and admiring grandchildren Molly, Casey, Ruby May, Olivia, Rebecca, Tatiana, Daniel, Julie, Beau, Ben, Adam, Brittany, Ben Jr., Marianna, Charlotte, Ella, Bryan, Carson, Tommi, and Blake; and 8 great-grandchildren will miss their “Dad”, “Cromer”, and “Pa” until their glorious reunion.  “And Cromer, though you no longer tread this earth, we will observe you each day in the forests and landscapes, in majestic structures and elegant figurines, and in fish, flowers and all things ‘chickens’, your legacy lives.”  ~Your loving family. Daniel, 85, peacefully gained his wings Thursday, April 4, 2019. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 13, 2019 at Trinity United Methodist Church. Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church; 626 Norwood St, Spartanburg, SC 29302 or the Spartanburg County Foundation; 424 E Kennedy St, Spartanburg, SC 29302 to benefit the Arts.