Artist and signature help.

Hello

move had a painting for the last 25 years that belonged to my father and it’s slightly bugging me. I’m struggling to find out anything about the artist or anymore works. Also I’ve moved house a few times before finally settling down but there’s something about this piece I always had to make sure it came with me while a lot of stuff would go to charity! Any advise or help regarding the artist would be much grateful.

 

M. Ward?

 

From what country? Region?

Debora

 

Hi Debora

really not sure it was my dads favourite picture pretty sure it’s British, It’s obviously a reflection of a boat on water other than that I have no clue

 

You have no idea what part of England it depicts? And is it really a painting? It appears to be a pencil sketch.

Debora

 

Hi debora

Never really noticed that but yeah pencil. It hung in my dads office for years and I’ve sort of just brought it with me where I moved. Literally know nothing about it. It’s never been removed from frame as I was advised not o remove a picture from its original frame

 

Must have meant something to your father. By way, there's no reason a framed work can't be opened. Back probably just craft paper that could be replaced by any framer. Signature looks like J. Ward to my eye but could be wrong. Assume a contemporary work. Subject appears to be a working sea-going steamboat. Here's more information about their use in the U.K. which might help you identify locale (which might, in turn, lead you to the artist.)

https://readtiger.com/wkp/en/Steamboat#Great_Britain

Debora

 

Thanks Debora very much appreciated

 

Hi @Debora, you know me, I have to try!!! Sometimes I will try to stretch out a signature to see if it will reveal or help in identifying it.....but me, personally, am NOT good with signatures....I do it to see if it helps others.....so does this show anything to help with the "JWard" signature.....which maybe that's just what it IS!! It's multiplied 4X, THEN stretched out.........

 

J.W.Ward perhaps? But really needle-in-haystack.

Debora

 

It is J.W. Ward to my eye. I think @Debora and @i need help have nailed it. Pretty nice work BTW.

 

JWilard, but there's no dot for an 'i'........jut throwing it out there.....

 

Great find! Certainly a (strong) possibility.

Debora

 

Dedicated to a fellow artist.

https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid=4030

Debora

 

Simon Benney is his grandson. One could always ask if he knew what their association was.

https://www.houseofbenney.com

Debora

 

They have him listed as "Thomas W Ward" in the following, but description on the page says, "J W Ward"



https://www.invaluable.com/auction-...rd-british-born-1918-alec-co-303-c-94cfa6ddd4

 

By George, I think you've..! Thomas William Ward seems to be it.

https://suffolkartists.co.uk/index.cgi?choice=painter&pid=1281

Debora

 

So likely to be a village in Suffolk. Which one, dayathink?

Debora