Kenneth Denton - Paddlers at Twilight Hunstanton

Kenneth Denton
Paddlers at Twilight Hunstanton, Norfolk
c. 2010

Oil on board, framed.

29 x 19 cm

SOLD

Kenneth Raymond Denton was born on 20th August. 1932, in Chatham, Kent, England. His mother was the daughter of a Master Painter, while his father had a military background. The family lived in nearby Rochester, but during the 2nd World War, Kenneth was evacuated to the country. During this period at school in Barham, Denton's attraction to painting first began.
In 1944 Denton won a scholarship to Rochester School of Art, (later The Medway College of Art) where he was educated in general painting. It was here that he was awarded what was to be the first of the much recognition of his achievements in the Arts: the Fairhain Memorial Prize.

On leaving college, he became apprenticed to a Master Painter and Gilder, and once again attended the Medway College of Art during his apprenticeship, gaining a First-Class Distinction in his studies.  
During National Service in the British Army, Denton kept up his passion with the arts, completing a number of commissions and utilising his skills in such projects as the decoration of the Battalion Church.  
On the completion of his National Service in 1954, Kenneth Denton set up in business as a Decorative Artist. During this period he also furthered his education in design, gaining Fellowship of the British Institute of Interior Designers, and The Chartered Society of Designers.
He did not neglect his true passion of oil painting, his work was to be seen in exhibitions frequently, including world renowned Bond Street, London.  
In 1960, Denton’s expertise in the interior design and decorative arts, led to time first of several teaching posts, at Maidstone College of Art. He was subsequently to teach at his old College as well as the Royal School of Military Engineering; eventually being appointed Examiner to the City and Guilds Institute of London.  
Whilst this was a very busy period in Kenneth’s life, he had started a family after his marriage to Margaret Nesbitt, in 1956; it also saw the continued development of his skill with the brush.
He begun to devote all his spare time to painting, and found his technique was developing and maturing constantly. Kenneth Denton paintings became sought after:
Corporations and Statesman alike began to commission him to paint. In 1969, encouraged by his increasing success as a painter, he took the decision to concentrate fully on painting and turned professional. 
There can be no doubt that this decision by Denton has benefited all of those who patronise the arts, be it collectors or admirers. Kenneth Denton has become one of the leading artists that Great Britain has produced this century.

Honours & Prizes
Kenneth Denton has been recognised with such accolades as the highly selective and sought after membership of THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MARINE ARTISTS as well as FELLOWSHIP OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS and INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY MARINE PAINTERS.
He has been awarded prizes including the HUNTING GROUP AWARD for best painting in the exhibition as voted by the visitors.
Denton has appeared on Television, his work has been subject to critical acclaim and examination by scholars, on programmes such as British Broadcasting Corporations “Open University”. He has become the subject of articles in magazines and is listed in many books, including “Who's Who and “Debretts”.
To all those who have the pleasure of a painting by Denton on their wall, whether in the boardroom or home, there is without doubt, a satisfaction in being able to participate in the career of an artist who, will surely be remembered as one of the outstanding painters of his time. An artist who has inspired others to write of him:
“A painter of superb ability. His lyrical handling of pastoral scenes and marine subjects is in a class of its own with generous emphasis on sky design, and mature, rich and sonorous colour.”
“When one sees examples of Kenneth Denton ‘s Landscapes, one wonders why so much attention is given to the Victorian Artists at the expense of latter-day painters”
 “Kenneth Denton is clearly an artist formidable talent and superb craftsmanship.”

With the onset of Parkinsons Disease, Kenneth Denton has now retired from painting. However he has found that he has been able to revisit his roots and gains great pleasure in utilising his past skills in graining and marbling

Biographia
Born 20th August 1932. Chatham, Kent, England.

• MEMBER:             ROYAL SOCIETY OF MARINE ARTISTS (COUNCIL)
• MEMBER:             INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF MARINE PAINTERS
• PRESIDENT:        EAST ANGLIA GROUP OF MARINE ARTISTS
• FELLOW:              ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS
• FELLOW:              BRITISH INSTITUTE OF INTERIOR DESIGN
• FELLOW:              THE CHARTERED SOCIETY OF DESIGNERS
• WINNER:               HUNTING GROUP ART AWARD

Exhibitions:
Over 40 solo exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States of America
Venues in London; Amsterdam; Stutgart; Wimbledon; Thames Ditton; York; Cheltenham; Norwich; Croydon; Rochester; Frinton; Chatham; Eastbourne; Tunbridge Wells; San Francisco; Philadelphia; Seattle; Palm Springs; Chicago; Vancouver B.C.; Michigan; Harrogate; Newbury Spring Festival
One of only two artists from Great Britain chosen to participate in celebration of 300th anniversary of the worlds oldest yacht club - The Royal Netherlands Yacht Club.

Private Collectors include:
Former Prime-minister The Right Honourable Edward Heath M.P.; British Vice Consul to Washington D.C. Sir Anthony Jackson and Lady Jackson; Sir Kenneth Robson; The Honourable Godrey St Clair Watson Esq; USA Apollo XII Astronaut Pete Conrad; other Sports and Entertainment Figures, Diplomats and Statesmen

Museums:
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Littlehampton Museum, Sussex, England, Laren Museum, Amsterdam, Holland, National Maritime Museum, Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, U.S.A.
Corporate and Institutional Collectors include:
Midland Bank Plc; Trustee Savings Bank Plc; The Hollywood Club of Los Angeles; Grants of St James; Importers Ltd; British Sislecraft; Nuffield Hospitals; Blue Circle; Ocean Containers; Corps of the Royal Engineers; Medway Ports Authority; Nicholson, Chamberlain, Coils Group; Gasgoine-Pees Ltd, Edward Erdman Ltd, The Royal Netherlands Yacht Club, The Royal Aeronautical Club, London.
 
Television:
Exhibitions shown on Southern Television, England, 1970’s
Paintings used to open and conclude the “Bygone series” Anglia Television, England, shown throughout the 1980’s.
Paintings used in historical discussions on Monet, “Open University” British Broadcasting Authority. Various Radio and Television interviews throughout his career.

Bibliographa

• "Who's Who in Art" Trade Art Press (1976)
• "Who's Who in the Commonwealth" I.B.C. (1976)
• "Men of Achievement" I.B.C. (1977)
• "Distinguished People of Today" Debretts (1989)
• "People Today" (1991)
• "Directory of Sea Painters"
• "Dictionary of Artists Signatures"
• "20th Century Marine Painting" Brook-Hart
• "100 Years of Traditional British Painting" David & Charles
• "British Painters of the Coast and Sea" Charles Hemming
• "Dictionary of International Biography" I.B.C.
• "Painters and Sculptures of the 20th Century"
• "Antique Collectors Club
• "A Celebration of Marine Art, 50 years of the Royal Society of Marine Artists"

Articles by:
The Connoisseur, La Review Moderne, Yachting World, Yachting Monthly, Antiques, Shell Magazine, Arts Review, Country Life, Kent Life, Sussex Life, East Anglian Lifestyle, Essex Countryside Magazine, Sharman Newspapers, Eastern Daily Press, King’s Lynn News and Advertiser, The Norfolk Journal, The Field and Town & Country Magazine.