Claude Shepperson
Claude Shepperson was born in Beckenham in Kent. Shepperson’s best work is distinguished by a graceful use of line and in the works displayed here, this sensitivity compliments the seriousness of the subject matter. Shepperson started out as a law student but abandoned this for the more precarious life of an artist. He then travelled to Paris and later studied at the Heatherley School of Fine Art in London. Shepperson was a versatile artist, working in watercolour, pen and ink. At the beginning of his career he painted landscapes, particularly mountains and moors, but moved into the world of commercial illustration. Between 1905 and 1920 Shepperson contributed to the satirical magazine Punch. His sombre images for the Efforts and Ideals series provide a sobering contrast to the gentle charm of much of his work.
Geoffrey Prendergast 2014