Coventry Society member, Peter James, tells us the interesting story of Coventry School of Art. Peter writes….
Coventry School of Art was built in Ford Street in 1863 in the Gothic Revival style. The architect was James Murray born in Armagh Northern Ireland but moved to England as a child. After training under Walter Scott in Liverpool he designed a number of buildings in Coventry. James died aged 31 on 24th October 1863 in Coventry in the same year that the Art School was built. He was buried at London Road Cemetery.
The school’s first headmaster was John Anderson who was there from 1863 to 1906. He mainly painted landscapes with many depicting local rural scenes from the Warwickshire area.
John Anderson was followed by William Henry Milnes who became the school’s second headmaster. William was born at Northgate Wakefield on 21st October 1865 the son of William Milnes a master printer. He was a student at South Kensington School of Art and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp. After marrying Georgina Jameson in Hampstead on 10th April 1897 he became an art master at the Walthamstow School of Art in 1901. William moved to Coventry in 1905 and lived with his family at 7, Middleborough Road. An accomplished artist in his own right he had a number of pictures exhibited at the Royal Academy. While at the Coventry School of Art, William gave a number of lectures where he motivated students. He encouraged them to follow the example of JMW Turner by making quick sketches and noting differing conditions. Coventry’s buildings were suggested as good subjects to consider painting especially during different light conditions.
Sydney John Bunney 1877-1928 was one of his students who took heed of his advice. Sydney was born in Coventry in 1877 and spent his early life living in Raglan Street. By the time of the 1901 Census the family had moved to Spring Street with Sydney now employed as a commercial clerk. He had enrolled at Coventry School of Art in 1892 when John Anderson was headmaster but it appears that William Milnes was his mentor. His work has been appreciated by historians as well as art lovers with his pictures containing descriptions as well as the dates when they were painted. Many of the buildings he chose to depict no longer exist, mainly due to damage or demolition during WW2. By 1911 Sydney had become an accountant at Auto Machinery and he spent his later life living in Albany Road with his wife Eliza and two children. He died aged 51 in June 1928.
Herbert Edward Cox 1870-1941 Herbert Cox was another local artist who trained at the Coventry School of Art. Like Sydney Bunney he painted local scenes featuring streets in Coventry and the surrounding area. He was employed as a draughtsman and designer. His work included wallpaper and textile patterns, some of which are held at the Herbert Art Gallery. In addition he designed the illuminated certificates awarded to Coventry Freemen.
As well as producing artworks Herbert Cox taught painting at Coventry Technical College.
Although he was born in Coventry Herbert spent many years living in Manor Road Lillington with his wife Margaret a secondary school teacher.
Coventry School of Art building in Ford Street was demolished in the mid 1960s to make way for the Coventry ring road. The school moved from Cope Street to Cox Street eventually becoming part of Coventry University.
Images reproduced by permission of Culture Coventry Trust/ Herbert Art Gallery & Museum