Sidney Elmer SCHOFIELD
The second son of Walter Elmer SCHOFIELD, born in Southport, Lancashire in 1901 shortly after his parents had settled in England. He obtained an MA in History at Christ's College, Cambridge then trained at the Slade in the early 1920s and went on to an extended trip to America, France and Spain.
Undoubtedly influenced by his father, a landscape painter in impressionist (plein air) style, he nevertheless decided to pursue a career in farming, studying agriculture at Seale Hayne College, Devon. On one of the family visits to Cornwall, he and his father had stolen a glimpse of Godolphin House which left a lasting impression. Farming in Suffolk when he heard in 1937 that it was for sale, he set off for Cornwall immediately and bought it.
In 1938 his parents moved in and Sidney, taking up his paints again, joined STISA at the same time as his father. His best work from this time is a series of portraits of St Ives fishermen. He fell in love with Herbert LANYON's daughter, Mary, who had also joined STISA (as an associate) in 1938. They were married in 1940. Shortly afterwards Sidney volunteered for war service, and at the end of hostilities, in 1945, he was raised to full member of STISA.
He rarely painted thereafter as the rescue and repair of Godolphin House became his principal passion (see Mary SCHOFIELD, who took up the wand). The major restoration works at Godolphin, led by Mary and their family following his death, and now the National Trust, will stand as a lasting tribute to their joint vision.
media
Painter in oils, specialising in landscapes with buildings, and portraits
works and access
Works include: St Ives fisherman
exhibitions
memberships
STISA 1938-45
misc further info
references
Family information (A Lanyon)
Hardie (2009) Artists in Newlyn and West Cornwall (p344)
Tovey Creating a Splash (ills p268); (2010) Sea Change