Friends of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection

15/06/2026

Highland Scene with Sportsmen 1856 is by the artist, John Henry Mole, 1814-1886. Born in Alnwick, Northumberland to a jobbing carpet maker. His early years were spent in a solicitor’s office, devoting his leisure time to painting.
At the age of 21 he became a professional artist specialising in miniatures. He first exhibited four of these at the Royal Academy in 1845. However he also painted landscapes and figures and on moving to London gave up the miniatures.
Mole regularly exhibited at the New Society of Painters in Watercolours and at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours becoming its Vice President in 1884.
Occasionally he painted in oils and in 1883 was elected as a member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.
He travelled widely and produced a prodigious body of work. Many of his are to be found in public collections.
This watercolour was donated in 1947 by Ethel Higson of Lytham St Annes and is one of three paintings she gave to the Collection.

19/05/2026

There is quite a lot of talk at the moment about the Chelsea Flower Show, so I thought it appropriate to post this popular painting,
The Italian Flower Girl 1887, an oil on canvas by Eugene de Blaas (1843-1932).
Donated to the Collection on 24 November 1941 by Mrs Percy Bibby of Lytham St Annes, in memory of her late husband Thomas Percival Bibby.

17/05/2026

Alfred Morris was born in Weaverham, Cheshire in 1834 into a very artistic family. His father, John C. Morris and brothers, John William Morris and William Walker Morris were all painters.
Alfred, working from Deptford, was a visual painter mostly recognised for his landscapes featuring sheep. He flourished between 1853 and 1896 and exhibited at the Royal Academy, the British Institute and The Society of British Artists of which he was a member. His works are held in several British collections.
This oil paining of 1860 is entitled Sheep and Goat and was donated by Richard Ernest Eckersley in 1944.

07/05/2026

Still time to book your place.

21/04/2026

19/04/2026

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06/04/2026

Thomas Sidney Cooper 1803-1902
The artist was born in Canterbury and became one of the foremost animal and landscape painters of the Victorian period. Many of his paintings are held today in prestigious galleries.
During his long life he exhibited at the Royal Academy for 57 consecutive years. He was one of the first artists to use photography as an aid to creating compositions for his paintings. As early as 1851 he belonged to a photographic group, the Calotype Club, of which his friend, Richard Ansdell, was also a member.
Having studied in Brussels he was greatly influenced by Belgian artist, Eugene Joseph Verboekhoven. We have his painting” Cattle and Sheep in a Landscape “ in our Collection.
Cooper was a philanthropist. Having come from poor beginnings he used some of his wealth to establish the Sidney Cooper Gallery and Art School in Canterbury where free tuition was provided for impoverished students wishing to study art. He, himself, would teach these boys and girls.
This oil on canvas “ Canterbury Meadows 1856 “ , a favourite subject, was the bequest of Amy Beresford 1888-1972.

02/04/2026

Can’t wait to see this recently restored artwork!

Tear and holes in historic 19th century Lytham Hall painting fixed as part of £3,600 restoration - full story in the comments