Autumn Exhibition
Welcome to our Autumn Exhibition with all the concerns for the future we hope that it provides a prelude to a wonderful Christmas
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William Alister Macdonald
(1860 - 1956)
William Alister Maccdonald was the son of Scottish Free Church Minister John Macdonald of Clyne, Sutherland. William Alister Macdonald was a painter in watercolour of landscape, coastal and river scenes. He exhibited from 1892 to 1936, including works at the Royal Academy and the Arlington Gallery. He travelled widely, particularly in the South Pacific, and he lived at one time in Paul Gauguin’s house in Tahiti. He lived in Box Cottage in Tinhead, Westbury which is a delightful thatched cottage in this small village.
In Hammersmith, on 28th October 1898 he married to Lucy Winifred Cary, a miniature painter and daughter of the artist William H Cary. She was the manageress of the Arlington Galleries where he held many of his exhibitions. The couple started their married life living in Kings Street in Richmond, but their love of travel had them living in many locations throughout the world. William is recorded as having sailed to from London to Colombo in Shi Lanka bound for the Seychelles at the age of 89, a first-class passenger on British-India Steam Navigation Co Ltd vessel “Madura” via Mombasa Dar es Salaam and Beira.
A number of Macdonald’s London views are in the permanent collection of the Guildhall Art Gallery. William Alister Macdonald died at the age of 96 at Pao Pao, Ile de Moorea, French Oceana on 11th August 1956
Janet Ledger SWA
Janet Ledger was born in Northampton. Educated at Northampton School for Girls, studied art at Northampton School of Art where she was taught by Tom Wrigley and Henry Bird, her mother’s cousin. She lived in Buckinghamshire with a studio in London before moving to Northumberland where she lives now.
Her misty industrial landscapes and paintings of people have a marvellous feeling for atmosphere and colour combined with a strong sense of observation of life. The humour and pathos she evokes adds a dimension which allows the onlooker a momentary smile.
Often compared with Beryl Cook and L S Lowry, Janet’s studies are obviously in that genre, although her work has an additional quality all of its own.
Nothing escapes her notice, whether it be people on holiday or at work, children at play or at school, or the more quirksome pieces of landscape around us. The washing on the line, a city skyline at night; or the corner shops and backstreets populated by buses, dogs, lamp posts, the occasional drunk or the shoppers with prams.
Her reputation and painting have taken her to America where she has held several highly successful exhibitions. Her paintings have been reproduced many times both as cards and limited edition prints.
Her work can be seen in galleries in London and her standing as one of the most highly talented female artists in Britain today is increasing all the time.
Her works are in numerous private collections including that of HRH Princess Margaret in permanent collections Coal Board, Marks & Spencer, Dallas Texas, Tate Gallery.
She was elected a member Society of Women Artists in Oct 1986 and her work has featured in the Sunday Times Colour Magazine.
Arthur John Trevor Briscoe RE RI
(1873-1943)
Born in Birkenhead Briscoe studied art at Slade School of Art and exhibited at Fine Art Society, Royal Academy, New English Art Club, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour and many more.
No British Artist has celebrated the world of the sailing ship with more understanding than Arthur Briscoe. Briscoe portrayed not just sailing vessels and the sea itself but, in particular, he delighted in portraying seafaring men whilst at work. Briscoe had the ability to convey the motion of the sea itself and the varied effects of light and shade with extraordinary economy of line. He lived in London before moving to the east coast where he lived in Suffolk, Colchester and Maldon in Essex
Jack Saxon 1924 – 2005
An Obituary
Jack Saxon was a founder member of Caithness Field Club, a former committee member and Bulletin Editor. Jack was born in Burnley, Lancashire, grew up during the second world war and a few years after moved with his wife Jean and young family to Belfast where he was a writer and technical illustrator at Short Brothers aircraft factory. During his time there he developed and expanded the talents that marked him out. He gained a good knowledge of rocks, fossils and landscape. He trained in art and sculpture, eventually homing in on water colour as his main medium of expression. He also had a flair for languages and was able to translate complex technical documents from a surprising range of sources. The family moved to Thurso in 1959 for a job at Dounreay as an information scientist and technical author. Jack was one of the small group that proposed that the Caithness Field Club should be founded. It was 1966, the centenary of the death of Robert Dick – geologist and botanist. The anniversary triggered discussions and a public meeting. He was a lifelong member and in 1974 was elected to be an Honorary Vice-President. In the same year Jack began to look at the Dick collection of fossils in the public museum in Thurso and began to improve it, to the extent that he became honorary curator of the museum for several years. With a task like that all Jacks talents came to bear – illustrations, accurate facts, good writing, imaginative layout, import of fresh ideas from elsewhere, enthusiasm and drive. Jack served as editor of the Field Club Bulletin from 1990 until 1994. This was immediately heralded by the innovations of a picture on the front cover, and an Editorial.
Edward Wesson RI RBA RSMA
(1910Edward Wesson RI RBA RSMA
(1910 - 1983)
Edward Wesson was a painter in oil but mainly watercolour handling a variety of subjects with an assured wash technique. Born on 29th April 1910 in Blackheath, southeast London, he learned “from reading of the methods of such masters as E W Haslehust and Adrian Hill and by bitter experience”. Edward Wesson spent 20 years perfecting his technique before exhibiting, then he was a prolific exhibitor at the Royal Academy, National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers/Printmakers, Royal Society of British Artists, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolour as well as provincial galleries. He was a member of the Wapping Group of Artists. He contributed to the Leisure Painter and Artist magazines and painted posters for British Rail and the National Savings Bank. He lived locally in Guildford and the Borough hold some of his work.
Gerald Phillips
1930’s
Grandfather Stephen was a Trinity House Pilot and his uncle Stephen was the St Ives Pier Master. His father was Nicholas and a plumber. Mother Kathleen Bosanquet Many generations of Cornish men.
Cornish born in St Ives Gerry spent 6 years in the USA where he studied at evening classes in San Francisco in art. He is mainly self-taught. While in the US he moved to Lake Tahoe where he along with other art students worked in a Casino. Formed the Lake Tahoe Art Society.
He moved back to Bristol and St Agnes in England before moving back to St Ives where he was a member of the St Ives Group of Artists exhibiting with them in the 1970’s. He painted the Cornish coastline in oils, watercolour and mixed media. His studio was “The Lamplighter” Studio in Westcottes Quay.
His brother was N Roy Phillips the author of “The Saffron Eater” which won 1st Prize in the Denys Val Baker (publisher of the Cornish Revies) memorial held by the St Ives Society in 1986. Gerry was a keen actor and was a member of the Trencrom Revellers and St Ives Operatic Society. In 1992 Gerry gave a solo performance of Alfred Wallis’s last week before going into the workhouse.
PATRICK JOBSON SMA SGA PS
(1919 – 2007)
Pat Jobson was born on 5th September 1919 and educated at Sir George Monoux Grammar School in Walthamstow. He studied art under his father, Frank Mears Jobson, A E Hayes and Sir Frank Brangwyn. He was a landscape and Marine artist in oil, watercolour and pastel, illustrated books for Open University Press, Blackie and Macmillan. He was a member and past President of the Langham Sketch Club and the Wapping Group of Artists. His work is in private collections in UK, Norway, New Zealand and America. Pat died in January 2007, the last surviving founder member of the Wapping Group of Artists.
