A sliver of Kenneth Rowntree

Kenneth Rowntree 1915 -1997
Originally trained at the Ruskin School of Drawing, Oxford, and then went onto the Slade. Possibly best know for his work on the 'Recording Britain' project. The above watercolour, painted as part of the project, shows the interior of Black Chapel near Dunmow in Essex, approx. 1942. His watercolours have a beguiling quality to them, rich in colour, with a strong narrative - places where magical things might happen.


If you happen to come across a copy of , 'A Prospect of Wales' by Gwyn Jones & Kenneth Rowntree (King Penguin 1949), don't let it slip through your fingers. It's a smashing little book with superb colour illustrations by Rowntree, such as the one below, demonstrating his love of the Welsh countryside. If you fancy following his trail some more, look out for the posters he created for the 'School Prints' series in the late '40's...




Comments

Ange said…
I would never have guessed the first was a water colour as it is indeed so rich... Happy New Year! And Many happy returns to you.
Ange