A Calm Evening, Cowes - Watercolour by Frank Watson Wood

Frank Watson Wood (1862-1953)
A Calm Evening, Cowes, Isle of Wight

An evocative Edwardian view in The Solent

watercolour, signed & dated 1908

Framed and glazed in our studio using conservation materials

Overall dimensions including frame: 74.9 x 99 cm

Born in Berwick-upon-Tweed, Frank Watson Wood studied at the Berwick School of Art and South Kensington Art School. He initially became a teacher and from 1889 until 1899 was Headmaster of the White School of Art, but then decided to become a professional artist. He shortly afterwards moved to Portsmouth to concentrate on naval subjects. Throughout his career he would accept many commissions from naval officers for portraits of their ships, or scenes depicting particular naval events.

Wood's reputation was greatly enhanced after he sold several watercolours of yachting subjects to Edward VII and Queen Alexandra, some of which were hung on the Royal Yacht. The high regard in which he was held enabled Wood to secure access to some of the best known ships of the period such as HMS Hood, HMS Barham and HMS Royal Oak.

In 1918 Wood was invited aboard the Grand Fleet flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth, along with WL Wyllie and John Lavery, to witness and record the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet. George VI and Queen Elizabeth were also enthusiastic patrons and he accompanied them on their 1939 Canadian tour as official artist.

He exhibited regularly at the Royal Academy and the Scottish Royal Academy and lived in Edinburgh towards the end of his life.