Staithes: Life, Light and Landscape

The first book to survey the work of the late 19th century artists colony located on the coast in Northern Yorkshire, whose paintings of rural landscapes, seascapes, fishing scenes and village life was highly influenced by the Impressionists.

The period 1870–1910 saw the heyday of a phenomenon of artist ‘colonies’ which, though centered on Europe, stretched to the USA and Australia. Despite most histories focusing on the urban and avant-garde, this was the dominant mode of international art practice – with its formative role in the emergence of modern tourism having ramifications still now.

Although at its core was a yearning and nostalgia for life that was pre-modern and immersed in nature, the authenticity it sought placed artists’ colonies firmly within a modern context. In doing so it set the scene for a qualitatively new encounter between artists and environment.

This book on the Staithes colony in Yorkshire is the first to present its activity in the context of painting on that coast, explore its international connections and influences and give a far fuller picture of the inter-relationship of its main artists, including Britain’s first female Royal Academician.

Adam Chadwick has enjoyed a 30-year career in both the commercial art and museum worlds. An Associate Director at Christie’s auction house dealing with fine and decorative arts from 1870 to 1940, he went on to curate and lead museum, library and archive collections at Lord’s Cricket Ground and the All England Club, Wimbledon. He has organized international exhibitions to Australia and the United States and now runs his own business, A&A Arts. This is his second book.