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The Millrind Press

FORDHAMIN

WATERCOLOURJOHN KAY

Compiled by Jenny Kay

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The Millrind Press2004

FORDHAMIN

WATERCOLOUR

JOHN KAYCompiled by Jenny Kay

Moat Road 1994

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FORDHAM IN WATERCOLOUR John Kay

Design & Layout byJenny Kay

Published and printed in Garamond byThe Millrind Press

22 Hall Road, Fordham, Colchester, Essex CO6 3NQ

All rights reservedNo part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by anymeans, electrical or mechanical, without express permission in writing fromthe author.

ISBN 1 902194 11 X

Compiled by Jenny Kay

Copyright © John Kay 2004

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IntroductionIn 1975 John and I decided to move to N.E. Essex, attracted by

the scenery and the open skies. Our discovery of Fordham wasserendipitous. On a tour of the villages between Halstead and Col-chester we found Fordham with its rolling farmland and views acrossthe Colne Valley. We moved into a semi-detached house in Hall Roadamong the “acres of deplorably unrural new housing” as described byNorman Scarfe in his Shell Guide to Essex. The “unrural” bit suitedthe “townie” in John as he enjoys the proximity of neighbours.

Over the years John has found a continuous source of subjects forpaintings in and around the village. We have taken many wonderfulwalks around Fordham with the camera, particularly in snowy weather.Often it has taken a few years before the photograph and the sketchhave been used for a painting.

Many of John’s paintings are privately owned. John has keptphotographs and copies have been made on cards and notelets.

Pond at Moat Hall 1998

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When John paints on location he often makes a preparatory tonalsketch before he starts painting and may take a photographs for laterreference to detail. Sometimes he paints from photographs but theseare not slavishly copied. He develops the design using sketches toensure that compositional qualities and artistic realisation predominate.

John’s paintings are figurative, with a landscape/townscape bias.His work is traditional, he carefully composes his paintings and useswatercolour techniques with craftsman like competence, interpretingthe subject in a personal way. He has been greatly influenced byEdward Seago, Rowland Hilder and Russell Flint and he much admiresthe abstract qualities of the modern painters, Frank Webb, CharlesSovek and Norman Battershill.

Paintings

Penlan Hall Lane

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Planning a painting

Archendines, Chappel Road 1991

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Working from a photograph

River Colne 1990

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Open countryside

Fordham from Suttons Farm 1993

Beyond Ponders Road 1990

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Snowdons (Commission)

Mill Road

Fordham Hall and All Saints Church 1998

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Mill Road

All Saints Church and School 1991

Fordham Schoolhouse 1990

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Fordham Hall from the footpath behind Hall Road 1991

Tea at the Barn, Flower Festival 1994

Fordham Hall

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Three Horseshoes 1992

Church Road, looking North 1992

Church Road

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Church Road

A Wet Day, early 1980s

Looking North 2003

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Church Road

Cottages looking South 1993

Fordham Village Stores 1992

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The Countess ofHuntingdon’s ConnexionChapel with the Schoolroomand Manse, from photo-graphs taken in the 1960s.(Commission 1993)

Chapel House in 2004 (Commission)

The Chapel

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Penlan Hall Lane

Old Timbers 1981

Suttons Farm painted in 2002 from an earlier photograph

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Snow Scenes

River Colne 1980

Rams Farm Road , painted in 1992 from an earlier photograph

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Snow Scenes

River Colne 1980, the original is missing

Fossetts Lane 1991 from an earlier photograph

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Snow Scenes

Rams Farm

Church Road 1996 froman earlier photograph

Rams Farm

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Snow Scenes

Fossetts

Old Timbers

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Farm Machinery

Over the years at Fordham Place (Commission)

Drill at Rams Farm 1991

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Farm Machinery

Dated Technology at Rams Farm 1991

Binder at Rams Farm

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Fordham Place 1993 (Commission)

Fordham Place Cottage 2004

West Bergholt Road

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Hill Cottage 1992

Fossetts

Fossetts Lane

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Church Tower and Barn at Fordham Hall 1990

All Saints Church

From a painting for a Christmas Card

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Flower Festival July 1978

All Saints Church

The Churchyard 1992

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On the parish boundaries.

King’s Farm 1993

Ford Street, Aldham, looking west 1990

29Ford Street, Aldham, looking East 1992

Towards West Bergholt 1992

On the parish boundaries

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John has held two exhibitions in Fordham Village Hall. These provedto be most successful. He felt particularly privileged that his 1998exhibition was opened by David and Nancy Cannon, Mayor andMayoress of Colchester at the time. They paid tribute to John’s workand his contribution to village life.

Exhibitions

John & Jenny Kay, Nancy & DavidCannon at the opening of the exhibitionin Fordham Village Hall, November1998

Publications by John KayFordham from my SketchbookSketches for CompositionInto Composition - A Guide for Painters

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The Millrind PressISBN 1 902194 11 X