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Artists Who Painted Birmingham Landscapes

I think he may have used a lot of 'artists licence' with some of his backgrounds, his main interest being the central subject, cows for example ( beautifully portrayed). Also I think there is a lot of gouache (body colour) besides watercolour going by the lack of transparency in the painting, this of course does not take anything away from the quality of the painting. Eric
 
Samuel Lines recorded David Cox's birthplace in this drawing of the cottage in Heath Mill Lane, Deritend. Cox's father was a blacksmith, so perhaps the smaller building adjoining the cottage was the smithy? Viv.

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Vivienne14 said:
Samuel Lines recorded David Cox's birthplace in this drawing of the cottage in Heath Mill Lane, Deritend. Lines' father was a blacksmith, so perhaps the smaller building adjoining the cottage was the smithy? Viv.

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A few lines from the Biography of David Cox, by William Hall (1891)...

“He was born of humble parents, in a very unpretending abode, situated in Heath Mill Lane Deritend...not very far from the ancient Inn called the Old Crown...Joseph Cox, his father, was a whitesmith, in contradiction from that of a blacksmith, or shoer of horses. He was a forger of bayonets and gun-barrels, as well as being a General artificer in iron...

(I don't think David Cox has yet been noted on the Forum as a Great person associated with Birmingham.)
 
Lovely painting of St Peter's Church, Harborne where I was Baptised and Married. I believe David Cox is buried in the Churchyard?
 
Anthea, David Cox is buried in St Peter's churchyard near the east end of the church. When he retuned to Birmingham he lived in Greenfield Road Harborne
 
He was a member, and possibly past president, of the RBSA (although not sure about that) and they still possess his easel and other painting implements. Eric
 
James Priddey - not an artist I'd heard of before - Handsworth born and known for his illustrations (see Wikipedia extract). These seem to date from about the 1950s through to the 1960s. Can anyone pinpoint the canal position for me in the St Chads drawing please? Viv.


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Vivienne14 said:
James Priddey - not an artist I'd heard of before - Handsworth born and known for his illustrations (see Wikipedia extract). These seem to date from about the 1950s through to the 1960s. Can anyone pinpoint the canal position for me in the St Chads drawing please? Viv.


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If you look at Google images you can see many of his pictures. Certainly a good artist.

Maybe I read the Wiki article in the wrong sense, when it states...

“such as the 1973 publication ‘Heart of England’ a guide to the Midlands region which he (Priddey) illustrated throughout, with accompanying text by Louise Wright.”

This does not do justice to Louise as she was the Author!
 
He also has a son, Nigel Priddey, also a member of the RBSA and the BWS (Birmingham Watercolour Society), I knew him during my membership (1988-2007) and he had a similar style to his father and Birmingham scenes were a common subject with him, he may well be still a member. Eric
 
Thanks Eric. Nigel produced this very nice piece "St Martin's Place, Broad Street" viv.

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Yes, that's a typical Nigel Priddey, my sort of subject, we did go out once together to paint Gas Street basin, the type of subject we both liked. Eric
 
Vivienne14 said:
Thought I'd post 3 different artists showing a quite similar view of St.Phillip's Church/Cathedral. Firstly a drawing from the 'Land We Live In' of 1856. The figures in the churchyard seem vaguely formed and the churchyard seems to be shown in a very untidy state, with children playing (?) among the tombstones. The second drawing I have no information on, but given there are lamps in the churchyard may be about mid 1800s. There seems to be a low wooden fence surrounding the gravestones (not railings) something I've never seen before in views of St. Phillip's. The third view is a painting by William Albert Green, 1930, all very neat and tidy and picturesque. Viv.View attachment 84307
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The only mention I can find of William Albert Green.

For more of his pictures see this site.....

https://www.ewgreen.org.uk/pack-a/thumbs-a/th-abberley.htm
 
Viv, You asked for someone to pinpoint the location of the canal in the St Chads picture.

I have taken this from Google Maps Street View. The artist's position would have been along the towpath shown from the bridge in Lower Loveday St.
 

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That's great David. The position, or very near to it on the wharf (Honduras Wharf) must have been very close to the artist, if not a snippet of it in the drawing. A nice addition to my family history - one of my Gt grandfathers had a forge along there! Many thanks. Viv.
 
It's quite naive isn't it ? And not much to look at as a 'Town Hall'. If memory serves, I think this building still exists. Viv.
 
It’s difficult to get a list of paintings by Blackham without logging into Auction sites, however a few are listed below...

The Stork Hotel, Old Square.
View from Deritend.
Hockley Hill, Handsworth.
Digbeth looking to St Martins.
Corner of Stafford Street 1882.
Above Keepers Pool.
 
Not sure where to post these, but saw them in The Gallery at the Library of Birmingham during the Wholesale Memory exhibition.

Quote by Francis Dobbs



Pugin



William Hutton

 
Loved the quotes ellbrown! Do you think Birmingham has now reached its zenith? According to Hutton this will depend on our manufacturers and they have all but disappeared.

I think Pugin's quote sums him up. I once visited his house and it was so over decorated and fussy that it gave me the willies and I had to come out. When I read his quote I wanted to shout 'Up the Radicals and Dissenters'!
 
Good day folks...I have a query as to who painted this MAGNIFICENT depiction of Brum life in the back to backs in the 40s or 50s? Thanks...
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Two of the boys are wearing jeans which I think would date the picture more into the 1960s. They all look well dressed. The wing mirror on the car also looks about 1960 to me.
 
Dennis Williams said:
Good day folks...I have a query as to who painted this MAGNIFICENT depiction of Brum life in the back to backs in the 40s or 50s? Thanks...
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That is by Danny Howes and it is called "Side By Side Between The Back To Backs"

http://www.reubencolleyfineart.co.u...k/side-by-side-between-the-back-to-backs-sold

It may be hIs interpretation of a Phyllis Nicklin photograph.

He was certainly involved in the Nicklin Revisited Project a while ago where artists painted their interpretation of her photographs...

http://www.reubencolleyfineart.co.u...Nicklin_Revisited_originals_portrait_2016.pdf
 
It is certainly from a photo rather than directly on the spot, you would never get 5 children to pose for you that long. Still a great painting Eric
 
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Down Memory Lane said:
That is by Danny Howes and it is called "Side By Side Between The Back To Backs"

http://www.reubencolleyfineart.co.u...k/side-by-side-between-the-back-to-backs-sold

It may be hIs interpretation of a Phyllis Nicklin photograph.

He was certainly involved in the Nicklin Revisited Project a while ago where artists painted their interpretation of her photographs...

http://www.reubencolleyfineart.co.u...Nicklin_Revisited_originals_portrait_2016.pdf
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The second link shows the artists interpretations of Phyllis’ photos. They come with a price tag.
There are a few that I would not pay a quid for!
 
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