© Helen Cunliffe
In 1881, James Edward Duggins was born as the son of clockmaker in the Warwickshire town of Cubbington.
More than a century later, a very personal exhibition in nearby Leamington Spa offers a rare display of the paintings, pastels, watercolours and photography he would become popular for.
Gallery planners have worked with his family on the first retrospective of his career since his death in 1968, and his granddaughter, Helen, will even give a talk alongside her husband Bob, who is the Town Mayor of Royal Leamington Spa, no less.
"We feel very privileged to present such a unique exhibition about this talented local artist," says Curatorial Officer Alice Swatton.
"It was a pleasure working with Duggins' family to make it possible for his artistic legacy to be seen by a wider public."
Duggins moved to St Ives at the age of 23, working under the tutelage of British Impressionist painters Algernon Talmage and Julius Olsson and making friends with the marine artist John Park and Edward Stott and George Clausen, who influenced his pastel work.
After returning to Leamington Spa to start up a photo business at The Grove Studio in 1906, he taught at the local Boys’ College and Art School, illustrated two books and saw his prolific Warwickshire and Cotswold-inspired country scenes go on show at the Royal Academy.
This revealing glimpse of a little-known talent celebrates one of Leamington's finest.
- Open 10.30am-5pm (1.30pm-8pm Thursday, 11am-4pm Sunday, closed Monday). Admission free.
More pictures:
Duggins illustrated two books, Sweet Arden (1908) and Unknown Warwickshire (1924)© Helen Cunliffe
The artist taught at the Boys' College on Binswood Avenue and the Art School in Leamington© Helen Cunliffe
