Need help with signature on painting

[Karen McDonald]

Hi everybody,

Normally I try and help other people in this section, but today I have a question of my own. 

In 1985, my then husband and I bought a painting from a gallery in Rayleigh, Essex. There were a number of similar paintings from the same artist in the gallery, mainly masses of blue with old ships.  It's a matter of taste, but I really liked the painting.

It came with me into my second marriage, but we haven't seen it hanging for a few years - it's been up on top of a wardrobe for a long time.

Just recently I took it down and looked at it. For the first time, it occurred to me that I have no idea who painted it. So I googled what I thought I could see and came up with...zilch. OK, a photographer, and an artist who produces works which are very different from "my ships".

I have looked on the Internet and can't find a gallery on the main road through Rayleigh. OK, it was 33 years ago...  So I can't call them. 

Here is the signature:







What I see is Hohing. Which is a pretty unusual name. The name definitely ends in "g". After the "g", there is a little dot/flourish on the canvas - it is not another letter. I thought I'd better point that out, as the photos are not brilliant and it might look as though there is another letter after the "g".

From experience I know that Google & Co. can function differently in different countries, so maybe I'm not getting all the possibilities showing here.
 
Any ideas? 

I look forward to your replies & suggestions!

Best regards,
Karen

[arthurk]

I wondered if it was Haling, though that means an extra hook at the bottom of the 'l'. Not that it helped much.

However, I did discover a Rayleigh Art Group (https://rayleighart.wordpress.com/) - I wonder if anyone there might know of him/her?

[Treetotal]

Could be Charles Holing?
Carol

[Gadget]

Possibly Holring

Add - or  the lr is an h as you suggest - Hah or Hoh or Halr or Holr 

[Karen McDonald]

@arthurk
Many thanks for that! I'll give them a try. 

@Treetotal
I've just googled him. His style is very different (not that that is conclusive  ) but I have found a couple of photos of him and if they are fairly recent, I don't think he could be old enough.

@Gadget
I've just been googling the name, but can't find anything...

[Gadget]

@Gadget
I've just been googling the name, but can't find anything...

I've been doing a global search on the various genealogy sites. There are various people with similar surnames but mostly on ships lists!

It could be that it's not a famous artist. There are lots of minor ones that I know of that you'd not find on Google - not mentioning any names!

Is it worth contacting the various private art galleries in the area to check if anyone might know?

[Gadget]

Nearest are in Leigh. This looks promising:

http://www.estuarygallery.com/

[Karen McDonald]

Nearest are in Leigh. This looks promising:

http://www.estuarygallery.com/

I've just written to Ian. Many thanks! 

I doubt if the artist became famous, but I find it a little weird that there is absolutely nothing about him/her on the Internet...

[Karen McDonald]

However, I did discover a Rayleigh Art Group (https://rayleighart.wordpress.com/) - I wonder if anyone there might know of him/her?

I wrote to RAG yesterday and a very helpful man named Colin wrote back almost immediately. He told me that the people who used to own the gallery in Rayleigh now have a business in another town (still in Essex).
So I have now written to that gallery and am hoping that the owners can remember the artist.

Fingers crossed! 

And thanks again, arthurk!

Best regards,
Karen