Harold Dearden’s artwork
The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) viewed through Harold Dearden’s artwork
On the 26th September 2024 the Friends will be treated to a presentation by Philip Dearden the grandson of Harold Dearden.
Philip’s session will present the seventeen United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through a selection of Harold Dearden’s pictures in an interactive manner.
Harold Dearden’s artwork – Waiting for the Train
About Harold Dearden – 1888-1962
Harold Dearden worked in the mediums of oil and watercolour as well as being a draughtsman in ink and wash.
From 1905 he studied under H Barrett Carpenter at Rochdale School of Art. Following that, Harold spent five years studying under Gerald Moira at the Royal College of Art.
1920 saw Dearden become the head of Swindon art school, * a position he held for thirty years. Further, for a time, he held the presidency of Swindon Artist’s Society. It’s true to say he made a significant contribution to Swindon’s art scene.
Galleries in London and the provinces have exhibited his work and Swindon’s museum and art gallery holds some of his work.
Harold’s drawings and paintings are varied in subject matter but an ideological theme that threads through his work is that of representing ordinary working people undertaking manual tasks. Thus his works are also now appreciated for their social history.
*One can trace the origins of Swindon’s art school back to 1843. Then, the Great Western Railway company began offering educational classes for their employees. It began life as the Mechanics’ Institution providing training to railway and allied workers. And also as a secondary school.
The late 19th century saw the development of the School of Art – the first purpose-built art school in the south-west of England.
You can view Harold’s work on the Art UK website here: https://artuk.org/discover/artists/dearden-harold-18881962
The Swindon collection continues be swelled by additions of Harold’s work. Back in 2022, as this Link Magazine article reports, five of Harold’s works entered the collection. They joined the existing ten.
Find out more about the work of the Friends of Swindon’s museum and art collections here: https://friendsofmas.org/
Date/Time
Date(s) - 26/09/2024
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm
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