Augustus Spencer. A sketch of him by William Rothenstein, drawn in 1920. Image: courtesy of The Royal college of Art. Augustus Spencer (1860 – 1924) rose from a humble background in Silsden to become Principal of the Royal College of Art. Predominantly a landscape and portrait painter, Augustus Spencer, was…
John Sowden (1838-1926) was a Bradford born watercolour painter specialising in landscapes, portraits and still life. He is best remembered for a series of paintings of Bradford street characters, and for his paintings of local dignitaries. John was the son of a local joiner but one who eventually became a wealthy…
Tim Smith is a professional photographer, writer and researcher, and a Bradford resident. Although he has a wide portfolio of experience across the commercial and public sectors, Tim has a distinguished record of recording the social and cultural transitions of minority communities as they adjust to their new lives…
Arthur Reginald Smith (1871-1934) landscape painter, was born in Skipton, the son of a chemist, but studied art at evening classes at Keighley School of Art, and later worked there as a tutor. In 1901 he became a student at the Royal College of Art (RCA), in London, and in 1904…
Sculptor and painter, Alex Smith (1863-1953) was born in Nottingham, the son of a stone carver, and moved to Keighley in 1889 to work as a tutor of sculpture and carving at Keighley School of Art. He joined forces with a local craftsman, Antony Boothman, to establish Mssrs Smith…
Ernest Leopold Sichel (1862-1941) painter, sculptor and silversmith was born in Horton, Bradford, the son of a textile manufacturer and German immigrant to the city. Ernest attended Bradford Grammar School and at fourteen was taking private art lessons from John Sowden. When he left school, Ernest went on to Bradford School of Art, leading…
Born 1975 in Egypt, sculptor, Sam Shendi, was one of five children and showed an aptitude for drawing from an early age. In 1992 he started a five year arts degree at Helwen University of Fine Arts in Cairo and graduated in 1997 after having specialized in monumental and architectural…
William Shackleton (1872 – 1933) portrait and landscape painter, was born in Bradford, the son of a paper manufacturer and merchant. He was educated at Bradford Grammar School then studied art at Bradford Technical College. In 1893 he won a scholarship to study at the National Art Training School (later…
The painter Doris Wilkinson (1930 -2017) was born in Silsden, the daughter of mother Ellen, and father, James Mitchell Wilkinson, an amateur painter. The family lived at 12 Norton Street, Silsden. She was also grand-daughter to William Scott Wilkinson, a local musician. Her uncle, also William Wilkinson, was also a talented local sculptor.…
Kershaw Schofield (1875-1941) was a Bradford born painter of landscapes, seascapes and flower subjects in watercolour. He also managed The Grosvenor Studio, a photographic business in Newton Street, Bradford, where he painted onto, or finished in colour, photographs of local worthies. He drew much of his inspiration from scenes around the Stoney Ridge and…
