Coventry Art and Artists

Keith has been really pleased in the interest shown in his artwork, and would like to ask our opinions on its future display.... Many thanks to those who have commented favourably on my painting Majestas Domini, recently on display at St Margaret's, Westminster Abbey. I would dearly like my work to be seen in my home town but have no idea for a venue where the Majestas and related paintings might be shown. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Keith West

I would have thought the "Herbert" would snap up the chance to display the paintings. I for one would like to see them.

Would Holy Trinity be out of the question? A very appropriate place I would imagine. If paintings are good enough for Westminster Abbey then they are certainly worthy to be shown in the beautiful Holy Trinity.

What excellent ideas, I'm sure Keith will be pleased that some thought has gone into where his paintings could be shown. Maybe they could be displayed on a rota basis - a couple of months each at The Herbert, Holy Trinity and maybe in the New Cathedral, too, to reach a wide audience.

In a word - Perfect

Hi there Just found this thread whilst generally googling my dad in an attempt to see if more of his work is coming on the market. My name is Mark Kessell and I am the 3rd son of the late Coventry artist James Kessell. It was indeed a bit spookey to come across some of his very early work - the Cat Series and the Speedway which he did when he was 15. If anyone is interested, I would be happy to write more about him and I would be very interested in seeing the two pencil drawings in reallife.

Keith has now sent me more images of his artwork, and I'm pleased to be able to share it with you all in our own image gallery. They are currently on display at St. Alban's and I believe we'll have to wait until next year before we can view them at our Cathedral here in Coventry. Thanks again Keith.

I love his works, so in keeping with today's generation. If Keith's paintings came to this part of the world I would make every effort to go and view them. Thank you Rob for showing them to us.

Hello Mark I vaguely remember you. My father purchased 3 of your father's paintings, and I have them on my walls at home. I greatly cherish the paintings because they remind me of the old days and my youth in Coventry. I went to your dad's art classes in Canley in the early 70s. I still remember the shock of your dad's passing. Your dad told me a story of an art exhibition where his painting was next to a Lowry. The Queen came along and purchased the Lowry. I think your dad was rather miffed that she purchased the Lowry and not his! My dad, John Spencer, passed away 2 years ago. He and my mother were well known for organising the Blitz balls, the first of which took place at the Matrix ballroom on the 14th November 1980. They became very popular.

Hello Speg and welcome to the forum Interesting story about Mr Kessell - would it be possible to post some photos of the paintings which you have? I'm sure many members will remember your parents and the Blitz balls

Does anyone know anything about the Aylesford Collection held by the Birmingham City Archives? I know it contains some paintings and sketches of early Coventry because I've seen it referenced a few times eg an image of Upper Well Street outside the old wall from Volume 1: Country Seats and Castles fol 176 appears in Coventry The Hidden History.

For a good colour copy of COVENTRY Buck (Samuel and Nathaniel) The South Prospect of the City of Coventry, in Warwickshire. Click on picture for a zoomable copy. Hurry, image is from an auction site so won't last forever. Coventry South Prospect Worth zooming in and looking at the Cheylesmore Gate and the Little Park Street Gates,

Albert Norman was a market trader with a fruit and veg stall, he was also a very good artist producing some outstanding pen and ink work of the old city, his usual signature was ANNA in a rolling style. He was the brother of John Henry (Harry) Norman. John Henry Norman my grandfather was known as a Coventry artist although he was born in Nottingham on 9th September 1896, coming to Coventry when he was thirteen. He served in the Army from 1915 to 1919, seeing action in France and was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. On his demobilisation, he found employment with the Rover Motor factory in Coventry as a crankshaft balancer but also enrolled at the Coventry School of Art. Between 1919 and 1924 he attended evening classes there under the instruction of the landscape painter William Henry Milnes R.B.A. Grandad was a founder of the Coventry Art Circle and was its Chairman for many years and he exhibited his works at the United Society of Artists. The U.A. was a London based independent non-profit society which was founded in 1921 with the sole aim of giving the opportunity to artists to exhibit their work there who resided outside the capital. He also showed at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London as well as at the Royal Birmingham Society of Painters, the Paris Salon and other venues in the provinces in England. In 1934 he was awarded full membership of the R.O.I. The Herbert Museum and Art Gallery in Coventry has six works by J.H. Norman in its collection and he is also represented in the Williamson Art Gallery in the Wirral.

Has anyone any information about J. Passam [11 Baxter Close], please? A relative used to accept original works in exchange for building jobs instead of cash payments! Passam gave him some pastels which, to my untrained eye, are very pleasant.

Coventry Council have put photos of their Herbert Cox paintings on Flickr, enjoy! Herbert Cox watercolours of Coventry