Mid 1900-1999, Wales, Two Paintings of Red Wharf Bay, Coastal Anglesey

Wales: Two Paintings of Red Wharf Bay, Anglesey by Leonard Machin Rowe (1880-1968) both signed to the front lower right corners, inscribed and signed to the back watercolour painting on artist’s paper, unframed sheets each 8.5 x 11.25 inches Two super little paintings by Leon. Rowe, signed to both sides and inscribed to the backs. Likely to be 1950’s, as much of the work we have in this artist’s portfolio is dated. These depict coastal cottages and small boats moored alongside. The trees are in leaf so this is likely to be a late Spring or Summer scene. Most of Rowe’s work we have was completed in Europe on painting trips, but a small selection are of British scenes, these are two of them. These works form part of an extensive watercolour collection we currently hold by Rowe. Known as Leon Rowe, the artist was born in Staffordshire, England, in Christmas week of 1880. His career and business involved in him interior decoration, and the design and painting of theatre production stage scenery. He had a love of painting in watercolour for his own pleasure and the collection of work we currently hold by this artist shows exemplary skill. In his later years he was able to travel to Europe where much of his post war work was executed, although examples of his paintings are recorded as early as 1914, when he would have been around 25 years old. His earlier work shows his signature as Leon Rowe but the majority he signed as L M Rowe – as is the case here. He passed away in 1968. condition report: No tears or creases. Both in good clean condition, the edges show no signs of discolouration or roughness. The painting with the boat’s sail up has some staining to the upper left edge of the sheet, extending about a half inch in from the edge in the sky area – and the same again on the lower left edge of the sheet.