Attrib. Claire Ritson (1906-2005) - 20th Century Gouache The Art Room

Description

A bright and bold study of artists at work. Completed in the typical bold style of Ritson, this fine composition is full of colour and effortless simplicity. Well presented in a double card mount and gilt effect frame. Unsigned. On wove.

Condition

In fine condition overall. There is light creasing to the paper, noticeable at the upper right corner.

Size

37.5 x 46cm (14.8" x 18.1")
Framed Size: 58 x 65cm (22.8" x 25.6")

Artist Biography

Claire Ritson was born in Glasgow in 1907 and educated at St Leonard’s School in St Andrews. Her father was a successful and wealthy businessman connected with the tea and import trade. This allowed Claire to make trips with her father to the Far East, especially Ceylon, in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
She attended Edinburgh School of Art in the early 1920s, where she came in contact with the young William Gillies. She already had her own very distinctive style of painting, but at the outbreak of war, her artistic career was put on hold. She joined up as a driver in the 'FANYs' (First Aid Nursing Yeomanry), and two years into the war she married Squadron Leader Pat Burdett. He was killed months after their wedding, shot down over the North Sea. After this, Claire transferred to work at Bletchley Park (the centre of Britain's decisive code-breaking efforts). She was married again in April 1944, this time to Major Vivian 'Teddy' Ritson, but within six months he was killed at Arnhem.

After the war she resumed painting, settling in London where she worked with Hayward Veal at the Heatherley School of Art. Although she had a house in the capital, she would often drive with friends to Europe, especially to Spain. Dr Marian Bohusz-Szyszko (1901–95) was a close friend and passed on to her his love of Georges Seurat, Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne and Pierre Bonnard. When looking at Claire’s work one can see the strong influence these artists had upon her.