V
Miss VACCONY
NAG exhibitor.
Henri VALENSI
A French artist, who visited St Ives, he was included in the A Century of Art put on by the RCM (? year). At present this entry is speculative only, as we have no further information about him. Contributions welcome.
Salomon VAN ABBE
Born in Amsterdam, the son of a diamond dealer, he moved to England with his family at the age of five, attending various London schools. These included Toynbee Hall, St Martin's and Kennington Art Schools, and the Bolt Court School, where tutors Walter Bayes and Walter Seymour were significant influences. He later became a British subject. Initially a newspaper illustrator, becoming well known for his drypoint etchings, he also illustrated books and designed book covers. As a painter he was best known for his portraits, and he is remembered for his etchings of the British legal system at all levels of operation.
His involvement with St Ives seems to stem from visits in the 1930s, exhibiting with STISA in 1933 and joining the Society in 1936. He returned regularly, spending part of the War there, as many of his RBA exhibits of that time were St Ives scenes. Known as 'Jack', his book cover designs were signed J Abbey or, occasionally, C Morse.
Mrs VAN BAKER
A pupil of the FORBES SCHOOL in 1938.
Katherine Airini VANE
The only daughter of Captain Gilbert Mair, Kitty Vane came to England from New Zealand to study painting in London, and with Lamorna BIRCH in Cornwall before the outbreak of WWI, remaining until the 1930s. During that stay she exhibited at NAG in December of 1926.
She travelled widely, returning many times to New Zealand before settling at Matapouri, near Whangarei, becoming best known for landscape paintings. She specialised in South Island mountain and snow scenes, elements of which can be seen in her films. Signed : Hon Mrs Katherine Airini Vane
Dor VARCOE
Dor's first and only solo exhibition of her flower paintings, Flowers from my Garden, filled the Jamieson Library, Newmill, Penzance, with strong and impressive work, both in oils and watercolour. 'The launch of Dor's show coincided to the day with the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall.
It was impossible to cancel her long-planned exhibition. Ultimately this was wise as many travelled long distances by train and car [to attend] and her fresh and happy colours served to lift the spirits at such a sad time. Throughout the week, more and more visitors attended and her exhibition was a virtual sell-out...It seemed wholly appropriate that throughout that sad week, when millions of people were placing floral tributes in central locations in remembrance of Diana, Dor's lovely flowers were in the garden of Hypatia's Cornish home.'
Gladys VASEY
Born in Blackpool and brought up in Manchester, Gladys Vasey was one of twin sisters. She studied in the evenings with a Polish painter around 1909 after attending finishing school in Germany, and came to Newlyn to study with Stanhope FORBES; she also visited the Samuel John Lamorna BIRCH classes. She wrote for the Art Quarterly.
Dora/Doris VAUGHAN
St Ives exhibitor. Possibly the wife of artist Colin SEALY.
