George Turner (artist)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
George Turner
from the Keene studios
Born2 April, 1841
Died29 Mar, 1910
NationalityBritish
OccupationLandscape painter
Spouse(s)Eliza Lakin
Kate Stevens Smith
Childrenyes

George Turner (2 April 1841 – 29 Mar 1910) was an English landscape artist and farmer. He was also called "Derbyshire's John Constable".

Life and work[change | change source]

Turner was born in Cromford, Derbyshire in England, then moved to Derby with his family. His father Thomas Turner was a tailer and favoured art works, so he adviced his son to learn art and music. Turner made progress mainly by himself, and became a professional painter and art teacher.

A quiet scene in Derbyshire (1885)

Turner lived in Derbyshire all his life. In 1865 he married Eliza Lakin (1837 - 1900), and worked as a part-time farmer raising four children at Walnut farm in Barrow upon Trent.[1]

After Eliza's death in 1900, he moved to Kirk Ireton and later married fellow artist Kate Stevens Smith (1871-1964) - they set up home in Idridgehay, and he died there in 1910. His son William Lakin Turner (1867-1929) also became a famous landscape oil painter.[2]

Most of Turner's paintings are of Derbyshire where he lived. They show old English countryside before the coming of modernization. His work was exhibited in Nottingham and Birmingham. Turner was a member of the Art Committee of Derby Art Gallery and the city has both his and his son's paintings.[2][3]

Notes[change | change source]

  1. George and Eliza Turner had four children: Mary Turner (later Chamberlain then Woore) (1868-1937), Florence Palmer Turner (1869-1955), William Lakin Turner (1867-1929) and Percy Reed Turner (1871 - 1936).
  2. 2.0 2.1 "William Lakin Turner". Archived from the original on 2012-03-03. Retrieved 2011-05-22.
  3. "George Turner". Burlington Art. Archived from the original on 17 April 2010. Retrieved 22 January 2011.

Further reading[change | change source]

  • Long, Frederick J. George Turner the Derbyshire Artist, 1841-1910 (1995)

Other websites and references[change | change source]