Who was painter Norman Ernest Ellis?

May 2015

Norman Ellis -paying bills with paintings

It's taken a long time but gradually more information is emerging about Norman Ellis, the man who liked to paint in Groby. He was a builder by trade but had studied at Leicester College of Art and Lincoln College of Art. A member of the Leicester Society of Artists and the Leicester Sketch Club he exhibited widely in the Midlands. A resident of Birstall has come forward with some more information about him.

“Norman Ellis went to the school on the corner of Narborough Road and Upperton Road in Leicester.” he said. “He was a school-boy friend of my father,who lived in Noel Street in the same area. They were in the same class and were born in 1913. They remained friends throughout there lives and I can confirm Norman Ellis lived in Victoria Park Road, Leicester. My father, a cabinet maker, did quite a lot of work in his house, and the old school pals agreed that Norman could "pay" my father in paintings.

I inherited these 6 paintings painted in the mid 1950's when my father died including -

1) A 31" x 20" landscape of the Vale of Belvoir in oils, showing in particular the village of Branston. Painted and signed in 1954.

2) A 22" x 16" landscape of the village of Rotherby, Leicestershire in oils.

3) A 5" x 4" watercolour of the Green at Hallaton, Leicestershire.

4) A 5" x 4" watercolour of Longthwaite Bridge, Cumberland

5) A 5" x 4" watercolour of Zouch Mill, Leicestershire.

6) A 5" x 4" watercolour of the Old Manor Farm, Groby Leicestershire” 

Although his works seem to be tucked away in the museum archives there is currently an opportunity to see some locally as the Leicester Sketch Club are having an exhibition featuring the work of current and past members at the New Walk Museum from Saturday 25th April until 1st August.

April 2015

A special invitation to the Leicester Sketch Club exhibition

Last year's enquiries about Norman Ellis, the artist who liked to paint in Groby, brought some interesting responses from readers but did little to reveal more about the man behind the paintbrush. Some examples of his work were found on display in Leicester, one reader has an example on his wall, and another early example seems to have been discovered in a car boot sale in Sunderland.

His Groby paintings often feature the Old Hall. Two examples date from the early 1950's and two from 1970. The most charming is perhaps from 1950 which appears to be a view to the Hall from what is now the Co-op car park. There's washing on the line and a figure holding a child sitting on a dry stone wall.

Born in 1913 in Leicester he was a builder by trade. He studied at Leicester College of Art and Lincoln College of Art. A member of the Leicester Society of Artists and the Leicester Sketch Club he exhibited widely in the Midlands. The Leicester Society of Artists have an annual Ellis prize which may be associated with him. An old BT directory entry provided by Emma Fitzpatrick of the Leicester Sketch Club suggests that he may have lived on Victoria Park Road.

Although his works seem to be tucked away in the museum archives there is soon to be an opportunity to see some locally as the Leicester Sketch Club are having an exhibition at the New Walk Museum from Saturday 25th April until 1st August. “We will be showing our current members work but also work from past members found in their collection including one or two works by Norman Ellis,” explained Emma. “One may be the city view from the then Leicester College of Art looking down towards Mill Lane, or perhaps the Wharf Street Vista which has been displayed in the St Martins Conference Centre. He taught in the college as some stage.”

The exhibition aims to highlight both the work of past Sketch Club members as selected from the New Walk Museum's collection over the past 100 years alongside work from current members and is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the talented work of Leicestershire based artists over time.

“All are welcome to join us,” she added. “Members of the club will be sketching within the museum and drawing from a Still Life on Saturday 6th June and Saturday 11th July (10am- 1.30pm) and will be happy to answer any questions about the club or the exhibition.”

There is no admission charge and the museum is open on daily from Monday - Saturday: 10am – 5pm and on Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Spotlight readers are invited to the preview night on 24th April from 6pm to 8.30pm, but are asked to let Emma know in advance, either by email (info@emmafitzpatrick.co.uk) or by calling or texting 07981983368. There's a fascinating gallery of some of the work of early members on the Club's website at http://www.leicestersketchclub.co.uk/early-members-work.html

April 2014

Another Ellis painting?

Although Spotlight readers were unable to help identify Norman Ellis, who loved painting in Groby, the Leicester Mercury has agreed to spread the appeal for information a little further.   So keep an eye on the Mr Leicester nostalgia page in the paper to see if more information is forthcoming. In the meantime another Ellis work seems to have popped up.

“I have recently bought a small picture signed by Norman Ellis. It appears to be pastel / coloured pencil, not paint. It is of a village scene. Did Mr Ellis do pictures with other media than oil/s?” asked GrobyOnline reader Stephen. If anyone knows the answer let us know. The picture no longer decorates a Leicestershire wall – it was bought at a car boot sale in Sunderland and will eventually end up for sale on eBay.

A groby  Spotlight reader recognises the scene.  "The painting of a village scene shows the village of Castle Combe in Wiltshire," writes Paul Cunningham. "I now live a village nearby Castle Combe having been originally from Groby. I hope this is of use." It most certainly is but the mystery remains : who was Norman Ellis?

February 2014

Enigmatic Ellis

The appeal for information about painter Norman Ellis in last month's Spotlight hasn't brought forward anything new about the man who seemed to enjoy painting in Groby. 

 Except that is for a note from a reader who reports that he has an Ellis painting from 1953. “It is paint on board measuring 18 inches by 14 inches and signed Ellis,” he explained. “On the reverse is written in pencil 'Snow scene-Groby. 1953 Jan'. The picture appears to be a view looking south from the old castle mound. The snowy field is the one Time Team excavated and the arched ruins are still visible today.”  

Was there a Groby connection?

Tucked away in a storage room there is a small collection of paintings by Norman Ellis.  There are probably others in private collections,  for example  his painting of Leicester Clock Tower which sold for £170 at a Gildings auction in 2007.   Although you'll not finds his paintings on display at our museums you can see  two which are on long term loan to St Martin's House at Leicester Cathedral.  

One of them, A Leicester Vista,  is a smoky aerial view of rows of Leicester's terraces with what may be the Raw Dykes Road area  in the distance, was bought by the City Council in 1956, a year after it was painted.  Can any readers identify the view of the terraces?  The other,  his Wharf Street Vista, dates from 1970 and was included in a donation of his paintings by his wife to the City Council after his death in 1971.   And what about the Wharf Street Vista?  Is it perhaps the site of Lee Circle after demolition but before construction work began?  

These two paintings and nine more can be viewed in an internet slide show.  One painting is of  Burnham Overy Mill across the Cornfield, Norfolk and another is St Botolph's Church  in Lincolnshire, known as Boston 'Stump' because of its tall tower.  But the majority are Leicestershire scenes, some of the city but four featuring Groby Old  Hall.    

At this point it is tempting to make assumptions – did he live in Groby or was it just one of his favourite places? Born in 1913 in Leicester he was a builder by trade.  He studied at Leicester College of Art and Lincoln College of Art.   A member of the Leicester Society of Artists and the Leicester Sketch Club he exhibited widely in the Midlands.  The Leicester Society of Artists have an annual Ellis prize which may be associated with him.    

The other Leicester paintings might be more nostalgic for older readers.  Leicester City Centre from 1952  shows the Clock tower, probably from the Lewis's department store opposite the Bell Hotel, complete with policemen on traffic duty.  Haymarket, from 1970, features the Clock Tower and White Hart Hotel  before the redevelopment.  Familiar shop names, now gone, include Alexanders, John Collier and Stones.  There is no painting date for The Last days of Leicester Palace, though the Belgrave Gate theatre was demolished in 1959.  Perhaps some readers went to the production of Cinderella featured on the bill boards.  

The Groby paintings

The four Groby paintings feature the Old Hall. Two date from the early 1950's and two from 1970.  The most charming is perhaps from 1950 which appears to be a view to the Hall from what is now the Co-op car park.  There's washing on the line and a figure holding a child sitting on a dry stone wall.  And before you ask the answer to your question is no, it's not Maurice or Margaret Chaplin.

If you want to view the two paintings at St Martin's House they are easily accessed. One is in the corridor to the toilets just behind the café, and the other half way up the staircase.  Don't be put off by the work going on outside to create the new Cathedral open space as access is not affected.  You could combine your visit with a break from shopping and enjoy a hot drink relaxing on one of the café’s sofas.  Trade has been affected by the works so they'll be very pleased to see you.

If you do visit St Martin's House and would like to see the Groby paintings this may become possible.  “I’m afraid that at present we are not able to provide access to stored works as we just do not have the capacity,” explained Claire Cooper , the Documentation Officer at New Walk Museum & Art Gallery.   “However, once a number of galleries are opened this year there will be more space in our store and the curator will have more time so we should then be better able to facilitate any requests that come through.” 

So who was Norman Ernest Ellis?  Let us know if you have any information you are happy for The Spotlight to share with other readers.