Fordham in Watercolour

FORDHAM IN

WATERCOLOUR JOHN KAY Compiled by Jenny Kay

The Millrind Press 1

2

FORDHAM IN

WATERCOLOUR JOHN KAY Compiled by Jenny Kay

Moat Road 1994

The Millrind Press 2004

FORDHAM IN WATERCOLOUR John Kay Compiled by Jenny Kay

Copyright Š John Kay 2004 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, without express permission in writing from the author.

Design & Layout by Jenny Kay Published and printed in Garamond by The Millrind Press 22 Hall Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex CO6 3NQ ISBN 1 902194 11 X 4

Introduction In 1975 John and I decided to move to N.E. Essex, attracted by the scenery and the open skies. Our discovery of Fordham was serendipitous. On a tour of the villages between Halstead and Colchester we found Fordham with its rolling farmland and views across the Colne Valley. We moved into a semi-detached house in Hall Road among the “acres of deplorably unrural new housing” as described by Norman Scarfe in his Shell Guide to Essex. The “unrural” bit suited the “townie” in John as he enjoys the proximity of neighbours.

Over the years John has found a continuous source of subjects for paintings in and around the village. We have taken many wonderful walks around Fordham with the camera, particularly in snowy weather.

Often it has taken a few years before the photograph and the sketch have been used for a painting.

Many of John’s paintings are privately owned. John has kept photographs and copies have been made on cards and notelets.

Pond at Moat Hall 1998

5

Paintings John’s paintings are figurative, with a landscape/townscape bias.

His work is traditional, he carefully composes his paintings and uses watercolour techniques with craftsman like competence, interpreting the subject in a personal way. He has been greatly influenced by Edward Seago, Rowland Hilder and Russell Flint and he much admires the abstract qualities of the modern painters, Frank Webb, Charles Sovek and Norman Battershill.

Penlan Hall Lane

When John paints on location he often makes a preparatory tonal sketch before he starts painting and may take a photographs for later reference to detail. Sometimes he paints from photographs but these are not slavishly copied. He develops the design using sketches to ensure that compositional qualities and artistic realisation predominate.

6

Planning a painting Archendines, Chappel Road 1991

7

Working from a photograph

River Colne 1990

8

Open countryside

Beyond Ponders Road 1990

Fordham from Suttons Farm 1993

9

Mill Road

Snowdons (Commission)

Fordham Hall and All Saints Church 1998

10

Mill Road

Fordham Schoolhouse 1990

All Saints Church and School 1991

11

Fordham Hall

Fordham Hall from the footpath behind Hall Road 1991

Tea at the Barn, Flower Festival 1994

12

Church Road

Three Horseshoes 1992

Church Road, looking North 1992

13

Church Road

A Wet Day, early 1980s

Looking North 2003

14

Church Road

Cottages looking South 1993

Fordham Village Stores 1992

15

The Chapel The Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel with the Schoolroom and Manse, from photographs taken in the 1960s.

(Commission 1993)

Chapel House in 2004 (Commission)

16

Penlan Hall Lane

Old Timbers 1981

Suttons Farm painted in 2002 from an earlier photograph

17

Snow Scenes

River Colne 1980

Rams Farm Road , painted in 1992 from an earlier photograph

18

Snow Scenes

Fossetts Lane 1991 from an earlier photograph

River Colne 1980, the original is missing

19

Snow Scenes Rams Farm

Church Road 1996 from an earlier photograph

Rams Farm

20

Snow Scenes

Old Timbers

Fossetts

21

Farm Machinery

Drill at Rams Farm 1991

Over the years at Fordham Place (Commission)

22

Farm Machinery

Dated Technology at Rams Farm 1991

Binder at Rams Farm

23

West Bergholt Road

Fordham Place 1993 (Commission)

Fordham Place Cottage 2004

24

Fossetts Lane

Hill Cottage 1992

Fossetts

25

All Saints Church

Church Tower and Barn at Fordham Hall 1990

From a painting for a Christmas Card

26

All Saints Church

Flower Festival July 1978

The Churchyard 1992

27

On the parish boundaries.

King’s Farm 1993

Ford Street, Aldham, looking west 1990

28

On the parish boundaries

Towards West Bergholt 1992

Ford Street, Aldham, looking East 1992

29

Exhibitions John has held two exhibitions in Fordham Village Hall. These proved to be most successful. He felt particularly privileged that his 1998 exhibition was opened by David and Nancy Cannon, Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester at the time. They paid tribute to John’s work and his contribution to village life.

John & Jenny Kay, Nancy & David Cannon at the opening of the exhibition in Fordham Village Hall, November 1998

Publications by John Kay Fordham from my Sketchbook Sketches for Composition Into Composition - A Guide for Painters 30

31

32

The Millrind Press ISBN 1 902194 11 X