R S Workman - Artist - LOCATED

[q98]

Is anyone able to advise of a probable artist  named R S Workman.
I have an image of "Old Saltcoats Harbour" with the name R S Workman in the bottom right corner. My great-uncle married Jessie Baird Workman whose father was a Robert Spier Workman (gas engineer) of Saltcoats. He married Margaret Baird CAMPBELL on 9 September 1881 at Saltcoats. Robert died 12 March 1938 and Margaret on 9 October 1929.  Their children were:
Jessie Baird Workman - b. 19 Feb 1887 d. 03 Feb 1957.
Archibald Workman – died in South Africa.
Robert Workman – died in infancy.
Mary Workman – died 29 July 1943
Lily Workman – died 13 July 1956.
I would greatly appreciate any data on R S Workman, artist.
Q98
Fremantle
WA

[Hannah29]

Hi Q98

The Dictionary of British Artists has an entry for R S Workman, albeit very short: -

R S Workman, Windmill Street, Saltcoats. Exhibited 1886, one exhibition RSA (Royal Scottish Academy)

and the Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture is equally brief:

Robert S Workman, amateur still-life watercolour painter. Exhibited RSA (1) {i.e. once}. from Windmill Street, Saltcoats.

If you google  'R S Workman artist ' and click on the first entry - 'Ardrossan and Saltcoats Golf Club' -  an image of a painting of the golf club by RSW appears. It is held by  North Ayrshire Museum so they may have a file about him.

Have you tried contacting North Ayrshire Library Service? If there was an obituary in the local newspaper the Local Studies Library staff may be able to find it for you.

Apologies if you've done all this already!

Best wishes

Hannah29

[Hannah29]

P S

Clicking on North Ayrshire Museums will take you to a contact link, and the site for North Ayrshire Museums is http://www.north-ayrshire.gov.uk/Libraries.nsf

There's a contact link from there.

Hannah29

[toni*]

Hi, Hannah completley unrelated to this question but...
where can i get a copy of the Dictionary of British Artists?
trying to trace Edwin Charles Pascoe Holman b.1882 Hontion Devon, - he was known as Pascoe. i have tried googling his name and it ha brought up a bit of info.
thanks Toni

[q98]

Very kind of you Hannah29
North Ayrshire Museum are presenting an art exhibition next year which will feature some of his work. In preparation, staff have been researching the artists. I believe I hold data on Robert Workman which they do not. I have located a short news item on an invention of his in the local newspaper; the Ardrossan & Saltcoats Herald.
I'm Saltcoats born and bred myself.

Many, many thanks for your efforts.

Q98
Fremantle
Western Australia

[Hannah29]

Hi Toni

I asked a friend who works in an art gallery but you could try your local library; it may be in the Reference Library. If there is an art gallery where you live, ask them too; they'll have all sorts of reference works and access to sites the public don't know about.

Hannah29

[toni*]

thanks Hannah

[Gary Johnston]

I hope this strand is still running. Today I rescued from a Carlisle charity shop, not one, but a pair of original RS Workman watercolours. The first is the original painting of the view of the Old Harbour, Saltcoats, the second is of a derelict barn on the cliff. I'm am in the process of contacting the North Ayrshire Museum to find out if they knew of their existence. Both paintings are in good condition and I'm excited by my find.

[q98]

Very good to hear of your purchase Gary. He must have been no mean water-colourist to have been exhibited at RSA. As previously stated, I have a scan of the old Saltcoats harbour painting tucked away in my genealogy research. The North Ayrshire Museum (see earlier posts for email address) would definitely be interested in his work.
Sincerely
q98 (Saltcoats born & bred, now in Western Australia)