Matthew Allton's art collection

I'm not just interested in painting and drawing myself, but I like to collect bits and pieces of art as well. I thought it might be interesting for people to see the sort of art I have on my walls, but also thought I might find out more about some of the artists who created it.

I'm a firm believer in not buying prints of paintings, when I could buy original work by less well known, but just as good artists.

Of course, on the whole I have very limited spending power for buying luxuries like art, so most things I buy have to be bought on a very tight budget. I also have limited display space so I expect I will have to sell stuff on in the future. If you are interested in making an offer on something here then please feel free to do so. If I've lived with something long enough I may well sell it on.

'Morning Walk' by Ann Dangerfield

Medium: Mixed Media

I bought this painting measuring approximately 20 x 20 inches from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists Open Exhibition 2022.

Ann Dangerfield seems to be a regular exhibitor at the RBSA Gallery in Birmingham and the Mall Galleries in London.

I don't seem to be able to find an official online presence for her work. If anyone can help, then do get in touch and I can add a link to her work here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Silver' by Rupert Cordeux

Medium: Watercolour on paper

I bought this large watercolour painting measuring approximately 22 x 16 inches directly from the artist in 2019.

Rupert Cordeux was born in 1966 in Coventry. His formal art education took place at Coventry (Lanchester) Polytechnic and then Wolverhampton School of Art and Design. He graduated with Honours in Fine Art and Printmaking in 1988. He became a professional painter in 2000 after winning the Grand Final of the popular Channel 4 television series Watercolour Challenge.

To see more of his work click here.

'Large Shears' by Craig Stephens

Medium: Oil on hardboard panel

I bought this small painting measuring approximately 5 x 10 inches directly from the artist on his Etsy shop.

Craig Stephens is an artist living in Northern California. In 1993 he earned a degree in art studio from U.C. Davis, where he took classes from Wayne Thiebaud, Dave Hollowell and Roy DeForest. He currently teaches art at Chana High School in Auburn California.

To see more of his work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Consignment:Batch 84 Unit 7' by Glenn Ibbitson

Medium: Oil on ply

I bought this small painting measuring approximately 12 x 12 inches from the Roysl Birmingham Society of Artists Open All Media Exhibtion in 2017.

Glenn's art is an expansive oeuvre comprising several distinct projects, each pursued with a single-minded conviction.

Crucially, he allows himself to follow that gut feeling with no concern for his potential audience or for the commercial viability of the work. Just as his country home is pleasantly isolated, so is his position in relation to the rest of the art world. And he wants to keep it that way.

To see more of his work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Dawn Malpas Beach (Cornwall)' by Keith Noble (RSMA, RBSA)

Medium: Watercolour on paper

I bought this small painting measuring approximately 10 x 6 inches in an antiques shop in Shropshire.

Keith Noble was born in Chorley, Lancashire 1949 and studied at Bolton College of Art and Blackpool College of Art. He works mainly in watercolour but also some oils. His favourite subject matter is coastal, architectural and figurative and also some landscape.

He is a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists and a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists and he is a past president of Ludlow Art Society.

To see more of his work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'River Reflections' by Margaret Fairhead (RBSA)

Medium: Ink on silk

This 6 x 8 ish inch painting was bought from the Royal Biringham Society of Artists StART Exhibition.

Margaret is a member of the Birmingham Art Circle and draws, paints, designs and experiments with a wide range of fabrics and threads to create hangings and framed textiles. Techniques include free machine stitching and manipulation of auto patterns and thread tension to exploit the potential for texture and movement of colour within her work.

To see more of her work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Jimmie' by Martyn Harris

Medium: Oil on canvas

This 10 x 12 inch painting was bought from the Royal Biringham Society of Artists Friends Exhibition in 2016.

I love Martyn Harris's work and always love to see his latest work on Facebook and hear of his latest award or accolade! A real talent and inspiration. If only I had a tenth of his talent.

To see more of his work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Jack's Rake, Great Langdale' by Phil Entwhistle

Medium: Watercolour on paper

This 16 x 16 inch painting was bought for me by Karen and David for my 40th birthday.

I'd seen Phil Entwhistle's work when I'd been perusing galleries up in Kendal on a holiday with karen several years ago. Karen bought a painting by him then, while I couldn't afford the one I loved of a sheepfold.

I now finally have a piece in my collection!

To see more of his work click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Ending Day' by D Jones

Medium: Oil on Board

This little 7 x 6 inch painting was also bought for me by Steve and Iva for my 40th birthday.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Moonlight' by D Jones

Medium: Oil on Board

This little 6 x 6 inch painting was bought for me by Steve and Iva for my 40th birthday.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Tree Line, Bromyard' by John Davenport (RBSA)

Medium: Mixed Media

I bought this painting in February 2012 from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artsists Affordable Art exhibition.

John Davenport is primarily a portrait artist.

Click here to learn more about him.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'In The Woods Dixon Park' by Francis J Neill

Medium: Oil

This was another bargain Ebay purchase in 2011. I've tried to do a quick search online for this artist but to no avail. In handwriting on the label on the back it says (ARUA) which may indicate he was an Associate member of the Royal Ulster Academy, but can't find a record for him. If anyone knows more then let me know.

For more information and work by Francis J Neill click here.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Sand Dunes' by William Samuel Parkyn (1875-1949)

Medium: Watercolour on paper

Another bargain purchase from Ebay in 2011. I guess I have to take the fact that its by William Samuel Parkyn with a pinch of salt, but it certainly has some age to it and looks right to me having looked at other paintings by him out on the internet?

The son of an Army Commander, he was born at Blackheath, London. Principally a marine painter he worked in watercolours and oils. He was educated privately before studying art at Blackheath and Rochester.

He first came to Cornwall and exhibited with RCPS in 1896, living at St Ives, exhibiting again the following year at Falmouth. He studied further under Louis GRIER at St Ives. In 1905 he advertised that he would hold a watercolour and oil painting class during July, August and September at the East Kent School of Landscape Painting, Sandwich.

Later (c1907) he returned to live in St Ives, his first show being in 1908. His home was at Richboro', Barnoon, St Ives and he worked from the St Eia Studio until after WWI. In later years he moved to the Lizard, opting for more tranquil scenes, being particularly renowned for his ability to depict sand.

To see a larger image click on the picture above.

'Low Water' by June Dudleston (RBSA)

Medium: Oil

Having finished paying for my previous RBSA purchase I bought this painting early in 2011 using the Own Art Scheme again.

June studied at Wallasey School of Art and Birmingham Art Teachers Training College. She has taught in secondary schools and Adult Education. She continues to run demonstrations and workshops. She is a Past President of the Birmingham Art Circle and is currently President of the Hall Green Art Society. June’s favourite medium is oil paint which she applies with a knife. She enjoys painting portraits, landscapes and seascapes. When visiting her daughter in Canada, June relishes the opportunity to paint the dramatic colours of their Fall. Other places which have inspired her recently include the Baltic areas of Germany, Agincourt in France and her local park, Highbury.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Scots Pines' by Sylvia Huntsman (1897-1980)

Medium: Watercolour on Paper

This was an Ebay purchase in 2011.

Sylvia was the younger daughter of Francis Huntsman (d.1910) and Mary (nee Wentworth). Her brother Benjamin was killed in 1916 at The Somme. Mother and Daughters continued to live at Dall House, Rannoch Station, Perthshire until about 1950, when they moved to Retford Hall, Nottinghamshire. Both houses were enormous.

They all painted enthusiastically and prolifically, travelling around Scotland and the UK as well as abroad to France, Holland and other European countries, painting whenever the chance arose.

They do not appear to have exhibited formally, although they were very active members of various sketch clubs and art schools.

This watercolour came by descent from a related Worcestershire family.

This information was written by Sylvia Huntsman's descendants

To see a larger image click on the picture above.

Classical Male Nude Torso by Faro '07?

Medium: red chalk on paper

Another bargain Ebay purchase for next to nothing.

On the back of the drawing is written Faro '07 which I take to be the artists and the year the work was done? If you have any further information then please get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Winter's Silence' by Davey Jones

Medium: Oil on canvas covered board

Another bargain Ebay purchase. I am quite amazed by this artist, as he sells prolifically on Ebay (Probably at least 10 a week). His philosophy is obviously to sell each painting for little profit, but in bulk it must make him an actual living!

I bought two paintings by him and gave one away for a present (I actually preferred that one). He has a great way of quickly portraying mood in an evening landscape by use of colour. The style is very loose with very thick paint application to give a great overall impression.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'12.30pm Tuesday 20 April 2010 Distant View of Birmingham from Darby's Hill Dudley' by Robert Perry (RBSA)

Medium: Gouache on Paper

The Own Art Scheme and The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists is not a good combination for my wallet! But payng for art interest free over 10 months spreads the pain of buying such luxuries. I bought this painting in 2010 having initially gone to see Robert Perry's mountainscapes at the RBSA, but then fell in love with his more mundane quick and loose landscapes of industrial Birmingham. This view reminded me of the distant views I had over towards Birmingham from around my childhood home.

Robert Perry was elected a Member of the RBSA in 1997. He is known nationally and internationally for his adventurous lifestyle, the tenacity with which he adheres to his commitment to ‘Direct Response’ (painting on location) and his Spartan lifestyle when traveling around Europe. He always works and lives in his famous ‘mobile studio’ van. The range of Robert’s subject matter is vast, from his native Black Country to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau, the battlefields and tunnels of the First World War, the Alps, the Spanish Sierras and the pastoral landscapes of Northern France. He has been featured many times on British and French National Television, most recently on Coast (July 2009, BBC 2). Click here to visit his website

To see a larger image click on the picture above.

'Frosty Morning' by Dorothy Hunter

Medium: Pastel on paper

I saw this painting displayed in the window of a charity shop while stuck in traffic on Kenilworth High Street. I liked it enough to go and park up and investigate. It was a bargain, and so it was purchased there and then. It really does evoke a frosty morning walk to me!

The label on the back indicates that Dorothy Hunter is from Harpenden, but I know nothing else about her. If you do then please get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Sunset' by J Ball

Medium: Pastel on paper

This tiny pastel painting by J Ball was bought in Polperro from an exhibition of local artists work, along with the following drawing when I was on a walking holiday in Cornwall.

They evoked some of the views I'd seen on my South West Coast Way up to that point. Also they were tiny and light enough to carry on walking with!

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Sunset from Dunes' by J Ball

Medium: Pastel on paper

This was bought with the previous drawing from a local artists exhibition in Polperro, Cornwall when I was doing my walk along South West Coast Way.

If anyone knows more about the artist then get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Steps, Bali' by G Levant (S. Lamet?)

Medium: Charcoal on paper

This charcoal drawing was bought unframed from a stall in Bali when I was on my round world trip after finishing University.

If anyone can help work out the artist then get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Working in Paddy Fields, Bali' by G Levant (S. Lamet?)

Medium: Charcoal on paper

This charcoal drawing was bought unframed from a stall in Bali when I was on my round world trip after finishing University.

If anyone can help work out the artist then get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Dartmoor' by Tom Grant

Medium: Gouache on board

This painting was bought in an antique shop years ago. It was labelled up as a print with corresponding low price. Inspecting it, it was obviously an original so I snapped it up as a bargain.

If anyone knows any more about the artist then get in touch. It looks like Tom or Ian Grant from the signature in the bottom right corner

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.

'Fishing Boats' by Romick

Medium: Acrylic/Oil on Canvas stuck to board

This tiny painting about 3x2 inches and stuck to a tiny imitation easel is included here because its the first piece of original art I ever bought when I was on holiday in Guernsey with my mum.

If anyone knows anything more about the artist then get in touch.

To see a larger image click on the picture to the left.