1972 - 1976 War and Nudes

While the Mummer's cycle of 1969-1970 hinted at Bill's increasing political dissatisfaction, it would be the following short series of paintings that laid this bare in the most clear of terms. The War paintings comprise only a handful of works but each is loaded with heavy symbolism and pathos. This greater engagement with Bill's own American identity came no doubt from his new teaching position as lecturer and Artist-in-Residence at Amherst College, Massachusetts, which saw him, and Pat, relocate to the US for his two year tenure.

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While teaching at Amherst Bill returned to regular life drawing, which had been the foundation of his own artistic study as a student. As a result his paintings from this period are usually nudes often incorporating stylised drapery. A highly significant work from this period is "Five Figures", 1973, which shows the tragic death of Amherst student Gerald Penny, who drowned during a mandatory swim test. Bill's tribute to him takes the form of a classical pieta.