5 Lake District Artists and why their work is renowned

The Lake District is a place of beauty and one that has inspired many artists and writers over the years. Its combination of breath-taking landscapes, historical significance, tranquillity, and connection to literary and artistic history all contribute to its enduring appeal as a place of inspiration for so many. And a lot of the artists inspired by its beauty have found themselves residing in Cumbria for part or all of their lives. In this blog, we will look at 5 Lake District Artists and why their work in the surrounding the county is renowned:

Edward H Thompson

Widely regarded as one of the greatest Lakeland artists of his generation in watercolour, he captures the natural beauty of the ever-changing landscapes of his native Cumbria. Born in 1879, he took up painting at the age of 12 much to the disapproval of his parents. However, with the support of his older brother and the encouragement of his art teacher, his passion grew and by 1918 he became a full-time artist. Some even regard his pictures as the essence of Cumbrian painting.

 

Alfred Heaton Cooper

A watercolourist, known for his beautiful landscapes of the Lake District, Alfred Heaton Cooper was born in 1863 and perfected his artistic endeavours in Norway before settling down in Cumbria with his wife. His watercolour paintings were popular amongst locals, as well as tourists and were often used in guidebooks for the area.

John Corcoran

Born in 1940 in Lancashire, John began drawing and painting at a very young age. His father was a professional writer and portrait painter, so taught him drawing and brush techniques. His oil paintings include landscapes, seascapes, animal studies and wildfowl scenes; with many originals now being reproduced as Fine Art Prints and Greeting Cards. While his earlier paintings are in private collections, he has come out of retirement to paint exclusively for Fitzwilliam Fine Art Galleries, offering a nostalgic sentimentality of a bygone era with his new work.

 

Beatrix Potter

Inspired by the Lake District since childhood, Beatrix Potter is a world-renowned children’s author and illustrator. Her first story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902, complete with her much-admired watercolours. And a series of well-known characters followed thereafter. Settling in the Lake District, she became knowledgeable about fell farming, raising livestock and the conservation of the Cumbrian landscape. When she died in 1943, she left almost all of her property to the National Trust, allowing for the preservation of the new Lake District national park in 1951.

 

Matthias Read

One of the first artists to focus primarily on the Lake District, he moved to Whitehaven in 1690 where he completed many oil paintings featuring views of the town and surrounding area. Some of his paintings offered a Dutch landscape style of looking down from a high point to the coastline or nature beyond. His Cumbrian landscapes were hugely popular with the locals and his affordable prices meant many homes owned a Read original.

 

Fitzwilliam Fine Art Galleries

 

At Fitzwilliam Fine Art Galleries, we offer a unique collection of original paintings on the Lake District, with a mixture of contemporary and traditional paintings by established artists whose works hang in collections around the world; including Edward H Thompson paintings for sale. If you are interested in a particular picture by a Lake District artist or would like to enquire about other paintings by one of our artists, please contact us at sales@fitzwlliamgallery.co.uk. Our fine art galleries are located at the very heart of the Lake District; Hawkshead and Grasmere, and our exact locations and contact numbers can be found here.