Ernest Worrall
Encyclopedia
Ernest Worrall was an English
artist and teacher. Born in London, he served in World War I
and graduated from the Royal College of Art
before moving to Grimsby
. He is remembered for a series of paintings depicting the impact of World War II
on the town. His work was exhibited in the Royal Academy
fourteen times, and has more recently been displayed in the National Memorial Arboretum
in Lichfield
in response to a successful exhibition in a centre in Cleethorpes
.
. Having been captured by German forces in 1917, he escaped in the following year prior to the end of the war. In 1931 he graduated from the Royal College of Art
. He moved to Grimsby
in 1932, working as a teacher at Wintringham Grammar School.
During World War II
Worrall was a member of the Home Guard
. In 1943 he was commissioned by Grimsby Borough Council to record the impact of the conflict on the town in paintings. During 1943 and 1944 he created a series of over 20 works depicting a range of scenes in Grimsby.
Worrall continued to teach at Wintringham after the war, retiring in the 1960s. He died in 1972.
, where he died in 1972. He had a son, Richard Worrall, who in 2009 helped to organise an exhibition of his father's work at the National Memorial Arboretum
.
on 14 occasions during his life. Of the 22 works he painted during World War II, 18 are now owned by the local council and four by the Imperial War Museum
.
In October 2008 a free exhibition of Worrall's wartime paintings, titled Grimsby at War: The Works of Ernest Worrall, was opened at the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre, with an intended closing date of 30 November. It became the most popular exhibition ever to be displayed at the centre, attracting over 2,500 visitors, and was extended to run until 4 January 2009. Later in 2009 Worrall's son Richard, who saw the pictures for the first time at the Cleethorpes exhibition, helped to arrange another display of the paintings, at the National Memorial Arboretum
in Alrewas
in Staffordshire
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist and teacher. Born in London, he served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and graduated from the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
before moving to Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
. He is remembered for a series of paintings depicting the impact of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
on the town. His work was exhibited in the Royal Academy
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
fourteen times, and has more recently been displayed in the National Memorial Arboretum
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
in Lichfield
Lichfield
Lichfield is a cathedral city, civil parish and district in Staffordshire, England. One of eight civil parishes with city status in England, Lichfield is situated roughly north of Birmingham...
in response to a successful exhibition in a centre in Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes
Cleethorpes is a town and unparished area in North East Lincolnshire, England, situated on the estuary of the Humber. It has a population of 31,853 and is a seaside resort.- History :...
.
Biography
Worrall was born in London in 1898. He served as a machine gunner during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Having been captured by German forces in 1917, he escaped in the following year prior to the end of the war. In 1931 he graduated from the Royal College of Art
Royal College of Art
The Royal College of Art is an art school located in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s only wholly postgraduate university of art and design, offering the degrees of Master of Arts , Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy...
. He moved to Grimsby
Grimsby
Grimsby is a seaport on the Humber Estuary in Lincolnshire, England. It has been the administrative centre of the unitary authority area of North East Lincolnshire since 1996...
in 1932, working as a teacher at Wintringham Grammar School.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Worrall was a member of the Home Guard
Home Guard
-Military:*British Home Guard*Combat Groups of the Working Class *Confederate Home Guard, during the American Civil War*Croatian Home Guard and Imperial Croatian Home Guard*Danish Home Guard...
. In 1943 he was commissioned by Grimsby Borough Council to record the impact of the conflict on the town in paintings. During 1943 and 1944 he created a series of over 20 works depicting a range of scenes in Grimsby.
Worrall continued to teach at Wintringham after the war, retiring in the 1960s. He died in 1972.
Personal life
Ernest Worrall was the oldest of seven children. He married Mollie Wood in 1932, shortly before moving to Grimsby. After his retirement he moved to SussexSussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, where he died in 1972. He had a son, Richard Worrall, who in 2009 helped to organise an exhibition of his father's work at the National Memorial Arboretum
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
.
Exhibitions
Worrall's work was exhibited at the Royal AcademyRoyal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
on 14 occasions during his life. Of the 22 works he painted during World War II, 18 are now owned by the local council and four by the Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum
Imperial War Museum is a British national museum organisation with branches at five locations in England, three of which are in London. The museum was founded during the First World War in 1917 and intended as a record of the war effort and sacrifice of Britain and her Empire...
.
In October 2008 a free exhibition of Worrall's wartime paintings, titled Grimsby at War: The Works of Ernest Worrall, was opened at the Cleethorpes Discovery Centre, with an intended closing date of 30 November. It became the most popular exhibition ever to be displayed at the centre, attracting over 2,500 visitors, and was extended to run until 4 January 2009. Later in 2009 Worrall's son Richard, who saw the pictures for the first time at the Cleethorpes exhibition, helped to arrange another display of the paintings, at the National Memorial Arboretum
National Memorial Arboretum
The National Memorial Arboretum is a national site of remembrance at Alrewas, near Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It gives its purpose as:-Origins:...
in Alrewas
Alrewas
Alrewas is a large village and civil parish within Lichfield District, in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the A38 road, approximately 5 miles north of Lichfield...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
.