Harry Foster Newey – Clovelly Down-a-long – Watercolor And Pencil – Signed

This charming watercolor by Harry Foster Newey delicately captures the picturesque atmosphere of Down-a-Long, the iconic main street of the village of Clovelly in North Devon. The composition offers a bird's-eye view characteristic of this famous steep, cobbled street as it slopes down to the sea.

The artist demonstrates consummate mastery of watercolor in the treatment of light and space. The winding street, lined with traditional whitewashed cottages, naturally guides the eye towards the blue sea horizon in the distance. A solitary sail punctuates the expanse of the sea, adding a poetic touch to the scene.

Lush vegetation spilling over walls and roofs brings a springtime freshness to the whole. Touches of soft green contrast harmoniously with the ochre and gray tones of the houses. The meticulously rendered black wrought-iron railings emphasize the steep incline of the street.

In the foreground, several pigeons enliven the scene with their peaceful presence, lending a lively, everyday dimension to this village view. The subtle rendering of light and shadow, along with the soft, luminous palette, testifies to Newey's sensitivity to scenes of British rural life.

This work perfectly illustrates the timeless charm of Clovelly, a preserved coastal village that inspired many Victorian and Edwardian artists. The work is signed in the lower right and dated 1918. On the back, it is titled and bears the handwritten inscription "Private Exhibition Lyon 1918."

The work is in very good condition. It is mounted under glass and placed in a well-preserved, gilt-stained wooden frame.

The artist
Harry Foster Newey was born on September 22, 1858, in Birmingham and studied at the Birmingham School of Art. He exhibited at the Birmingham Society of Artists and became Queen Victoria's private painter in the field of watercolors.

Newey was also an art teacher and later headmaster of the Tunstall School of Art in Stoke-on-Trent from 1899 to 1909. In addition to painting, he also worked as an illuminator.

In 1927, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Birmingham Artists. He published a book entitled "Elementary Drawing." Newey spent his later years at Craigmore, Coleshill Street, Sutton Coldfield. He died in Sutton Coldfield on October 6, 1933.

Artwork can be viewed at the gallery (07240).
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