Ernest Knight
jhatter
2008-10-08 11:46:21
Does anyone know anything about Ernest Knight, the late artist who painted Dartmoor scenes and as I understand it, used to live in Widecombe? For example, where can I view or buy his work?
MagicHarry
2008-10-08 13:21:27
MagicHarry
2008-10-08 13:36:57
I also found one of his paintings for sale - scene of a Cornish Cove - no Dartmoor ones I'm afraid.
http://www.askart.com
Cheers
jhatter
2008-10-13 15:18:49
Thanks for your replies Magic Harry.
dartmoordaisy
2009-09-12 07:09:24
Hello,
He was my uncle, i used to visit him in Widecombe/ dartmoor when I was a child what would you like to know?
dartmoordaisy
2009-09-12 07:15:39
There is a book which members of the family produced after his death to celebrate his work.
' Ernest Knight' by Biddy Shillito Chapel Publications ISBN 0-953-03090-3
Jon Horley
2010-01-14 01:45:06
Hallo! I've joined up to reply to this posting, I have to confess! I was Yahooing like mad, after giving up on Googling, trying to find any mentions of Ernest Knight. I'm so pleased to have found the reference to him, having just found those already mentioned. I have two oil paintings by him, which my late mother bought in around (might have the year out by one or so) 1955 in Lusaka, Zambia (then Northern Rhodesia).
One is my most favourite picture of everything I have - a view of the red soil typical of the country, making the then untarred road to the Kafue River Gorge, where with my parents and friends we spent many blissful hours picnicking. The Kafue River is a strong, deep river with crocs and hippos, set among reeds and trees - a beautiful place. Mr Knight's picture is extremely evocative of a sunny, happy childhood and early adulthood from 1952-1964, my mother and I returning to the UK in that year following my father's death.
The other painting is a large one of three red and one white gladioli in a yellow/multi-coloured Majolica vase. Very colourful, even after some 50 years of being trundled all over the place with its companion: from Africa to Cornwall, Devon, out to Bahrain, back to the UK and Staffordshire, finally coming to rest with me in Brighton, East Sussex!
I well remember the day mother brought the two paintings home, having been to an exhibition by Mr Knight. I think they may have cost her around £40, a lot of money in the early 1950s, when average UK salaries were around £5 a week - although those in 'the colonies' were much better. They are still in their original frames made from what I think is passe-partout, although they're more of a beige than the startlingly cream colour they were when bought.
I'm delighted to learn that there's a book about Ernest Knight, and will endeavour to purchase a copy. I see he lived to be 80 (1915-1995), while my own mother passed away in 2007 aged 90. She loved the paintings dearly, and so do I!
With best wishes.
Duckpool
2010-01-14 17:41:56
That's a really great story; long may you enjoy your paintings!
Duckpool
Jon Horley
2010-01-15 00:11:00
Thanks, Duckpool! So nice to know other people know about him, too.
By the way, my parents and I were on holiday in North Devon in 1963 when my Dad became very ill and after a few weeks in Greenbank Hospital, Plymouth, died. We were staying at Shortacombe Cottage between Tavistock and Okehampton, and my mother and I were very kindly helped by the two ladies who then ran the cottage as a B&B and tea room, plus the late Warwick Calmady-Hamlyn, squire of Bridestowe. He was (and remains) the first 'squire' I ever met! I enjoyed some rides over the area courtesy of a huge hunter he had, called Sporting Sam, and also on a tubby Dartmoor mare called Kitty, who belonged to the Friend family, who farmed opposite to the cottage. Roy Friend was killed a few years later, when his tractor toppled onto him, I believe. They were very kind to us, too. In fact, I've never met a Devonian I didn't like, and mother and I continued to find them the kindest and most hospitable people when we went to live in Torquay in early 1967 for a few years.
I worked in Newton Abbot at Brunel House at the railway station, for the publishing house David & Charles, and enjoyed many drives out to Dartmoor and some excellent walks and the odd ride, too. David St John Thomas, a co-founder of the company, celebrated his 80th birthday a few months ago and, although he now lives with his third wife Sheila in Inverness, hosted a wonderful celebration from Dartington Hall, complete with trip on the steam railway to Totnes, then a boat trip down the River Dart. It was wonderful to see so many parts of Devon I'd not seen for many years. It's a beautiful and fascinating county - but I have to admit to not knowing about letterboxing, which would've made the walks and rides even more interesting!
With best wishes.
The Wandering Artist
2010-01-15 11:31:43
Jon
Being interested in local artist and in particular those relating to Dartmoor, I found your posts very interesting and an enjoyable thing to read.
You may be interested to know thet Ernest Knight has a mention in a book on 'Dartmoor Artists' by Brian Le Messurier ( publishers: Halsgrove - ISBN 1 84114 165 8 date 2002).
Regards
Frank (TWA)
Jon Horley
2010-01-15 23:54:33
Thanks for the kind words, TWA. I think I got a bit carried away there: I always worry I'll bore people rigid, but find myself wittering on, regardless! Thanks very much for the added info. Dartmoor and its surrounds offers such an ever-changing sweep of sky and landscape, doesn't it? I have a friend who's a professional photographer, specialising in horse-racing photos, but her rambles around Dartmoor, joyously accompanied by her Hungarian Vizsla dog Basil, have proven to be a rich source of some beautifully-constructed photos. Some of those she took in black and white look particularly dramatic, especially the rocky outcrops. Her name is Tracy Roberts and she's the first person I know to have mentioned letterboxing. She found a couple when Basil took her for a walk one day!
I'll try to find both books, so that I can gain further insights into Ernest's work and life.
Nik - KOTM
2010-01-16 08:35:12
Oh forgive me - I have been reading these posts for the past few days... and I have negelected to say
Welcome to the site, Jon.
Believe me when I say there is no way you could bore us on here, at least you are not boring me. Sorry to hear about the circumstances about your father. But from reading your posts it is obvious you have been bitten by the Dartmoor bug, and I for one can see the fascination you have for the place and its people.
I look forward to hearing more of your Dartmoor tales as they are interesting reading
Jon Horley
2010-01-17 01:43:56
Thanks, Nik - it's a very friendly site, and thanks for the welcome aboard. My first intro to Devon and the moors was when we came over from N. Rhodesia (Zambia now) in 1963 on 'long leave' - my Dad worked for Crown Agents, the colonial arm of the British Govt. overseas - where we got six months' fully-paid leave, every three years. We were staying with two wonderful middle-aged ladies, Muriel Brewer and Marjorie Curtis, who owned and ran Shortacombe Cottage as a B&B/tea room. We stayed there because my father was a colleague of Muriel's brother. My first excursion into Devon!
I loved it to bits - I'd never heard a fox 'coughing' at night and there were the eerie screeches of owls, the squeaks of mice and voles as the owls pursued them, and then all sorts of strange scuttlings and scratchings as little creatures scurried around doing their nocturnal business.
We arrived in the summertime, but Murield was keen to regale us with tales of prisoners escaping from Dartmoor Prison and getting lost in the sudden fogs which could descend on the moors. She and Marjorie were Cockneys, having spent many years running a newsagency in Dean Street, Soho, London, which some people might know was a fairly notorious area back in the 1950s.
One night, a thick fog had descended and there were reports of another prisoner going missing. The 'girls' had an outside coal store and Muriel had just been out and brought coal into the kitchen. She heard scraping at the window, and there was a man's face outside, peering in. He called out, "Let me in, let me in!" She showed him a fist and yelled in her loudest Cockney tones something similar to "push off, you varmint!", and he vanished. She had no idea if he was the escapee or just some unfortunate motorist adrift but, whatever or whoever he was, he made a very swift exit!
They were lovely ladies, very kind and great fun. They eventually moved to Torquay, where they continued to ply their business as B&B landladies in Ellacombe Church Road. I imagine they've both long gone to the big guest house in the sky, but I have wonderful memories of the cottage, the Fox & Hounds pub a quarter-mile away, the farms, and Bridestowe - especially cycling to help out with the Squire's horses at the manor, hurtling down the avenue to the village, then (and hopefully still) lined with beautiful beeches. I enjoyed a lot of 'firsts' - first ride on a Dartmoor pony, first sight of a stoat, a fox, first righting of a sheep which had rolled onto its back and couldn't get up!
We also enjoyed the fun of Tavistock's 'Goosey Fair' - another 'first' in that it was the first traditional market town I'd been to, and the first of that type of fair. Wonderful county, full of traditions, beautiful and changing scenery, and warm-hearted people.
The Wandering Artist
2010-01-18 21:58:11
When I visit Tavistock I always take a look in the art gallery: 'Elford Fine Art' - The Gallery, 3, Drake Rd, Tavistock.
They always have a good selection of paintings from local artists and some from 'past' artists such as Widgery, Jenkins, Morrish, Cook, to mention a few. If you are so interested in Dartmoor Art then it is always worth a visit.
TWA
chasauk
2010-02-15 23:09:06
Hello
I found this thread via google - wonderful!
I too knew Ernest and Kit very well, over many years, and love Ernest's pictures. Even today I cannot cross the Moor without passing Ernest's studio and saying hello at their little memorial in the church yard. I remember sitting chatting in their lounge with a wonderful picture of Venice above the fireplace. There was no greater pleasure than driving down from Bucks to meet Ernest and Kit for a few hours and then returning home that same day - about 400 miles! Does annyone remember Kit buying hay to feed the ponies during hard winters. I well remember their grounds playing sanctuary to Dartmoor's foxes when the Hunt was out. The Hunt were not popular visitors!
If anyone wants to see Ernests pictures, there are usually a handful on the walls in the Old Inn in Widecombe itself.
I am glad to say that I am still lucky enough to have a picture or two and enjoy them every day. You can still find Ernest's pictures, if you are lucky, and also find Biddy's book. I dont know if Biddy is still alive now however. In case you dont know, Ernest's uncle was Ernest Griset a famous Victorian illustrator whose work is very sought after also.
Regards to you lucky folk on Dartmoor
Chasa
Nik - KOTM
2010-02-16 06:47:44
Hi Chasauk - Welcome to the site - please feel free to ask, offer or comment as mentioned this is a friendly site - we try to keep it that way and we do have a lot of fun
Jon Horley
2010-02-16 10:23:46
A lovely reminiscence, Chasa, thanks. I wonder if anyone has a photo of Ernest Knight (with or without family members), that they could put up some time? I've lived most of my life with two of his pictures, so it would be nice to see what
The Wandering Artist
2010-02-21 21:04:08
Chasa
Welcome to this post. It was so interesting to read your post and would be interested to hear more.
TWA
dartmoordaisy
2010-02-25 21:05:50
Hello,
It's wonderful how many people have added to this thread- when I was last on this site there was only one posting and my reply!
Yes I remember Kit feeding the horses and the spring in the garden! I used to love going to see them and miss them dearly.
I didn't realise that the local pub has Ernest's work up! I will definitely go and have a look when next there!
Ernest's Grandfather, my great, great, great grandfather was also an artist working as an illustrator for many London periodicals. His work is wonderful. See link for a taster! http://www.zsl.org/info/library/ernest-griset-online-exhibition,27,PS.html
The Victoria and Albert Museum have a collection of his work in their print room. There is also a book.
Ernest Griset : fantasies of a Victorian illustrator / [by] Lionel Lambourne
It's lovely reading the comments about Ernest's work and seeing how appreciated his art is!
Thankyou :)
R.v.d.Merwe
2011-03-13 15:51:41
I am from Lusaka Zambia and am my grandmother knew the artist. We have four of his paintings, 3 of the Mosi-O-Tunya (Victoria Falls) and one of an african landscape. Beautiful pictures! The artist has a large picture of a Jacaranda tree in full bloom hanging in the Lusaka national museum and it is beautiful.
MagicHarry
2011-03-20 21:45:03
AussieLAD
2011-04-28 06:18:18
Hello,
I joined this forum so that I can ask a question.
Jon Horley mentioned in a post (Jan 15, 2010) that the family stayed at Shortacombe Cottage (operating as a B&B) between Tavistock and Okehampton in the 1960s. My wife and I spent a couple of very enjoyable days there in 1973. However I cannot find any other mention of it on Google, Yahoo or AltaVista. Nor can I see anything which might be the place on Google Maps! (There are numerous Shortacombes and many Cottages but none seems to be the correct one.)
Has anybody seen it recently (or has it changed name or been removed)?
The reason I ask is that I am converting a set of slides we took on our honeymoon to digital so that I can print an album of where we were and where we stayed. I was just curious about the place we used as a base to explore Dartmoor, Bridestowe, Lydford and other places nearby.
Regards,
Lawrie
Hello Jon.
We have just returned to Sussex after a visit to Lydford for the week-end ..I am fairly sure that Shorticombe no longer does B&B --
I have a cousin that lives nearby--so I will ask..
We have friends that had the Fox &Hounds aka The Fox who now live in California--.
All good wishes from a very soggy UK.
Glen
Ainlsley
2011-08-19 01:18:24
Hi, I don't know much about Ernest Knight but I have 4 paintings by him that I inherited from my parents. I have enjoyed them all my life but am looking for a buyer if you know of anyone that is interested email me at dreamcatcher2458@yahoo.ca. I look forward to hearing from you
jhatter
2013-05-02 14:01:18
reg the bullmastiff
2013-05-03 17:04:58
All good stuff. Fascinating living history? thanks for sharing. I enjoyed all of that.......... More please? :D
jhatter
2013-06-11 09:57:08
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