Larry Wakefield first gained notoriety in Germany and France, and was noted for his painterly nudes, abstract forms, interest in environmental art, shapes, colour and texture. Many of his sensibilities were honed during the Second World war when he was part of the Devonshire regiment in Germany after witnessing the widespread destruction of urban areas. During his later years he worked as a lecturer and Deputy head of Fine Art at the Southampton Institute. He continued to work with gusto until the end of his life; he was widely shown throughout European galleries, and had a retrospective at the Southampton City Art Gallery in 1979 and another at the Millais Gallery in 1997.
