Bradford College of Art & Crafts, c. 1930
Henry Vincent Clark (1886 -1940) was an art teacher at both the Shipley School of Art, and the Bradford College of Art and Crafts. He was also a professional artist, with a specialism for painting Yorkshire landscape scenes.
Henry was born in Rotherhithe, London, and studied art at the University of Reading. After graduation he moved to Shipley, where he was appointed a design master at Shipley School of Art, Saltaire. He stayed at the School of Art for seven years.
In 1919 he married Winifred Canning and they lived at Hirst Wood Road, Shipley, along with an adopted daughter. After Shipley School of Art, Henry worked at Keighley School of Art before being appointed in 1937 as Head of the Design Department at the Bradford College of Arts and Crafts.
In his own time he painted predominantly landscape scenes and exhibited work with the Yorkshire Group of Artists, including at Cartwright Hall, Bradford. In 1930 he became Secretary to the Group and was also a member of the Advisory Committee of the Allied Trades of the Yorkshire Council for Further Education.
‘Janet’s Foss’ by Henry Vincent Clark. Image by courtesy of Rosemary Robinson.
Henry was also a prominent member of the Saltaire Wesleyan Methodist Church and in 1932 wrote a seven act drama on the life of St Paul that was performed by amateur players at the Church. This was one of a number of plays with a religious theme written by him.
In 1939 he retired from Bradford College because of failing health and died the following year.
(With thanks to Colin Coates of the Saltaire History Group for his research into the life of Henry V. Clark).
(More information about this artist, as well as additional images of his artwork and a photograph of him, would be welcomed).