An internationally-renowned artist who was found guilty of a string of sex charges against children has avoided prison.
Graham Ovenden received 12 months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
The 70-year-old was convicted by a jury in April of six charges of indecency with a child and one allegation of indecent assault relating to three girls. They acquitted him of two further indecent assaults.
The jury had earlier found Ovenden not guilty of three charges of indecent assault on the direction of the trial judge.
Ovenden, of the Garage, Barley Splatt near Bodmin Moor in Cornwall, denied all the charges relating to four children, now all adults, between 1972 and 1985.
The pensioner admitted his artwork, much celebrated in galleries across the world at the zenith of his commercial popularity, included portraits of nude children.
Passing sentence at Plymouth Crown Court, Judge Graham Cottle said Ovenden was motivated by a sexual interest in children.
“The girls involved in this indictment had no understanding at that time of the true purpose of what you were doing and that purpose was undoubtedly sexual,” he told him.
“There can be no doubt that at that time you had a sexual interest in children.”
The judge added: “You enjoyed a reputation as a very eminent landscape artist in particular.
“In the art world, if your work may remain undiminished by your convictions, your personal reputation has been severely tarnished.”
Christopher Quinlan QC, defending, said Ovenden had suffered a blow to his reputation and some of his work had been removed from online display by the Tate.
“There has been a deal of publicity about these matters. Shame has been visited upon him.”
Mr Quinlan added: “He does not pose any risk at all of re-offending. He is 70 and custody will have a significant impact upon him more than a younger man.”