Samuel John Lamorna Birch R.A., R.W.S., R.W.A. (1869-1955)

Lamorna Birch was born in Egremont in Cheshirein 1869. A renowned painter in both oil and watercolour, he was largely self-taught, other than for a brief period of study at the Academie Colarossi in Paris. In 1889 he visited the fishing village of Newlyn in Cornwall attracted by the growing community of artists there, founded by Stanhope Forbes.  Under the influence of Forbes he went travelling, spending a year studying in Paris (1895-6), before settling in Lamorna in Cornwall. A popular man, Birch attracted other artists, including Laura and Harold Knight, to form a second generation of artists in Cornwall. Birch was a passionate fisherman and each summer he and his wife went on a river-based holiday, usually in Scotland.  There he would set up his easel alongside his fishing rod combining both his love of fishing and painting. Birch exhibited widely, including 236 works at the Royal Academy (1893 – 1955). He also exhibited at the RWS, RWA, RGI and RSA.  The first of several one-man exhibitions was held at the Fine Art Societyin 1906.  His work is held in public collections throughout the UK, including Tate Britain and the Royal Academy. He was given the nickname ‘Lamorna’ by  Forbes to distinguish him from fellow artist Lionel Birch