FORDHAM IN
WATERCOLOUR JOHN KAY Compiled by Jenny Kay
The Millrind Press 1
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FORDHAM IN
WATERCOLOUR JOHN KAY Compiled by Jenny Kay
Moat Road 1994
The Millrind Press 2004
FORDHAM IN WATERCOLOUR John Kay Compiled by Jenny Kay
Copyright Š John Kay 2004 All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, without express permission in writing from the author.
Design & Layout by Jenny Kay Published and printed in Garamond by The Millrind Press 22 Hall Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex CO6 3NQ ISBN 1 902194 11 X 4
Introduction In 1975 John and I decided to move to N.E. Essex, attracted by the scenery and the open skies. Our discovery of Fordham was serendipitous. On a tour of the villages between Halstead and Colchester we found Fordham with its rolling farmland and views across the Colne Valley. We moved into a semi-detached house in Hall Road among the “acres of deplorably unrural new housing” as described by Norman Scarfe in his Shell Guide to Essex. The “unrural” bit suited the “townie” in John as he enjoys the proximity of neighbours. Over the years John has found a continuous source of subjects for paintings in and around the village. We have taken many wonderful walks around Fordham with the camera, particularly in snowy weather. Often it has taken a few years before the photograph and the sketch have been used for a painting. Many of John’s paintings are privately owned. John has kept photographs and copies have been made on cards and notelets.
Pond at Moat Hall 1998
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Paintings John’s paintings are figurative, with a landscape/townscape bias. His work is traditional, he carefully composes his paintings and uses watercolour techniques with craftsman like competence, interpreting the subject in a personal way. He has been greatly influenced by Edward Seago, Rowland Hilder and Russell Flint and he much admires the abstract qualities of the modern painters, Frank Webb, Charles Sovek and Norman Battershill.
Penlan Hall Lane
When John paints on location he often makes a preparatory tonal sketch before he starts painting and may take a photographs for later reference to detail. Sometimes he paints from photographs but these are not slavishly copied. He develops the design using sketches to ensure that compositional qualities and artistic realisation predominate. 6
Planning a painting Archendines, Chappel Road 1991
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Working from a photograph
River Colne 1990
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Open countryside
Beyond Ponders Road 1990
Fordham from Suttons Farm 1993
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Mill Road
Snowdons (Commission)
Fordham Hall and All Saints Church 1998
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Mill Road
Fordham Schoolhouse 1990
All Saints Church and School 1991
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Fordham Hall
Fordham Hall from the footpath behind Hall Road 1991
Tea at the Barn, Flower Festival 1994
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Church Road
Three Horseshoes 1992
Church Road, looking North 1992
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Church Road
A Wet Day, early 1980s
Looking North 2003
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Church Road
Cottages looking South 1993
Fordham Village Stores 1992
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The Chapel The Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion Chapel with the Schoolroom and Manse, from photographs taken in the 1960s. (Commission 1993)
Chapel House in 2004 (Commission)
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Penlan Hall Lane
Old Timbers 1981
Suttons Farm painted in 2002 from an earlier photograph
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Snow Scenes
River Colne 1980
Rams Farm Road , painted in 1992 from an earlier photograph
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Snow Scenes
Fossetts Lane 1991 from an earlier photograph
River Colne 1980, the original is missing
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Snow Scenes Rams Farm
Church Road 1996 from an earlier photograph
Rams Farm
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Snow Scenes
Old Timbers
Fossetts
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Farm Machinery
Drill at Rams Farm 1991
Over the years at Fordham Place (Commission)
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Farm Machinery
Dated Technology at Rams Farm 1991
Binder at Rams Farm
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West Bergholt Road
Fordham Place 1993 (Commission)
Fordham Place Cottage 2004
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Fossetts Lane
Hill Cottage 1992
Fossetts
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All Saints Church
Church Tower and Barn at Fordham Hall 1990
From a painting for a Christmas Card
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All Saints Church
Flower Festival July 1978
The Churchyard 1992
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On the parish boundaries.
King’s Farm 1993
Ford Street, Aldham, looking west 1990
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On the parish boundaries
Towards West Bergholt 1992
Ford Street, Aldham, looking East 1992
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Exhibitions John has held two exhibitions in Fordham Village Hall. These proved to be most successful. He felt particularly privileged that his 1998 exhibition was opened by David and Nancy Cannon, Mayor and Mayoress of Colchester at the time. They paid tribute to John’s work and his contribution to village life. John & Jenny Kay, Nancy & David Cannon at the opening of the exhibition in Fordham Village Hall, November 1998
Publications by John Kay Fordham from my Sketchbook Sketches for Composition Into Composition - A Guide for Painters 30
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The Millrind Press ISBN 1 902194 11 X