McKenzie, Hugh William: Blackheath
£125.00
A lovely characterful watercolour, absolutely typical of Hugh McKenzie’s ability to capture the everyday qualities of a place, signed and unframed.
Artist: Hugh William McKenzie, (1909-2005)
Title and date: Blackheath, 1982
Size: 21.0 x 32.0 cms.
Description
Hugh McKenzie was born in Cromarty in the north of Scotland and showed early talent, exhibiting his first public work at the age of 10. He attended the Slade School of Fine Art under Professor Henry Tonks but, unable to make a living as a full-time artist, he became a clerk with the British, Foreign and Colonial Corporation which had offices near the Guildhall. He spent his lunchtimes looking around the City streets and buildings, occasionally making rapid sketches which he developed further at home. He continued to improve his skills, studying part-time at Goldsmiths’ College, St Martin’s School of Art and in Woolwich.
He eventually joined the Fire Service and served during the Second World War; he was for a time in charge of the Sydenham station then retired in the mid-1960s. In retirement he could spend all day sketching and painting and with his watercolour sketches made a particular contribution to recording the streets of the City and south-east London especially in the Blackheath, Greenwich, Deptford and Lewisham area.
Many examples of his work can be seen in the British Museum, the Victoria & Albert Museum, the National Maritime Museum, public galleries in Exeter and Nottingham, the Goldsmiths’ College permanent collection, the Guildhall collection and the collections of various London boroughs.