Vernon Ward
Encyclopedia
Vernon Beauvoir Ward was a 20th century English
painter and commercial artist noted for his works of flowers, birds and Edwardian subjects and who lived for most of his life in Hampstead
in London
.
, the son of an art dealer
, educated at St Joseph's Roman Catholic school in Highgate
and trained at the Slade School of Art in London
under Henry Tonks
, Wilson Steer and Sir Walter Russell. He was the cousin of John Stanton Ward
.
in 1926 and exhibited at the Royal Society
and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
. During the war he worked on ambulance maintenance with the Civil Defence Service
in Richmond. His work found particular favour in the commercial sector with publishers such as Solomon and Whitehead, Frost and Reed and W.N Sharpe of Bradford
and reproductions of his work were often found on jigsaw puzzles, greetings cards
and commercial prints. He painted a symbolic figure composition for the Free French during World War II
and the Borough of Twickenham
commissioned him to design a naval war memorial
. He occasionally produced original works under the pseudonym Bertram Linder.
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...
painter and commercial artist noted for his works of flowers, birds and Edwardian subjects and who lived for most of his life in Hampstead
Hampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Early life and education
He was born in HampsteadHampstead
Hampstead is an area of London, England, north-west of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Camden in Inner London, it is known for its intellectual, liberal, artistic, musical and literary associations and for Hampstead Heath, a large, hilly expanse of parkland...
, the son of an art dealer
Art dealer
An art dealer is a person or company that buys and sells works of art. Art dealers' professional associations serve to set high standards for accreditation or membership and to support art exhibitions and shows.-Role:...
, educated at St Joseph's Roman Catholic school in Highgate
Highgate
Highgate is an area of North London on the north-eastern corner of Hampstead Heath.Highgate is one of the most expensive London suburbs in which to live. It has an active conservation body, the Highgate Society, to protect its character....
and trained at the Slade School of Art in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
under Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks
Henry Tonks, FRCS was a British draughtsman and painter of figure subjects, chiefly interiors, and a caricaturist...
, Wilson Steer and Sir Walter Russell. He was the cousin of John Stanton Ward
John Stanton Ward
John Stanton Ward CBE was an English portrait artist, landscape painter and illustrator. His subjects included British royalty and celebrities.-Life and Work:...
.
Career
A member of the New Society of Artists, he was elected an associate of the Royal Society of British ArtistsRoyal Society of British Artists
The Royal Society of British Artists is a British art body established in 1823 as the Society of British Artists, as an alternative to the Royal Academy.-History:...
in 1926 and exhibited at the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters
Royal Institute of Oil Painters
The Royal Institute of Oil Painters, also known as ROI, is an association of painters in London and is the only major art society which features work done only in oil. It is a member society of the Federation of British Artists.-History:...
. During the war he worked on ambulance maintenance with the Civil Defence Service
Civil Defence Service
The Civil Defence Service was a civilian volunteer organisation established in Great Britain by the Home Office in 1935. In 1941, during World War II, the use of Civil Defence replaced the pre-existing Air Raid Precautions...
in Richmond. His work found particular favour in the commercial sector with publishers such as Solomon and Whitehead, Frost and Reed and W.N Sharpe of Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
and reproductions of his work were often found on jigsaw puzzles, greetings cards
Greeting card
A greeting card is an illustrated, folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment. Although greeting cards are usually given on special occasions such as birthdays, Christmas or other holidays, they are also sent to convey thanks or express other feeling. Greeting cards,...
and commercial prints. He painted a symbolic figure composition for the Free French 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...
and the Borough of Twickenham
Municipal Borough of Twickenham
Twickenham was a local government district in Middlesex, England from 1868 to 1965.Twickenham Local Government District was formed in 1868, when the civil parish of Twickenham adopted the Local Government Act 1858. The district was governed by a local board of 27 members.The Local Government Act...
commissioned him to design a naval war memorial
War memorial
A war memorial is a building, monument, statue or other edifice to celebrate a war or victory, or to commemorate those who died or were injured in war.-Historic usage:...
. He occasionally produced original works under the pseudonym Bertram Linder.