Kenneth Baldwin-Smith
Kenwin Studio


Below is a small sample of the artwork by my great grandfather (please remember that much of the work is what he did not sell and therefore is not his best work), like me, he worked in a variety of mediums including tapestry design, painting, carving, sculpture and stained glass. And, as he lived a long life (creating right up to the end), he had time to experiment with style and subject from; stained glass widows in Rome, tapestry designs for the Cambridge Tapestry Company, portraits including dignitaries, from very realistic dutch style still lifes and very large landscapes to very abstract paintings and sculpture. One week he could be completing a well paid commission and the next, painting a local pub sign or a Chivers (as in the Jam producers) van.

Kenneth claimed he was born on the Irish sea. However, the birth registration records he was born to Jonas Smith and Mary Ellen (nee Baldwin) Smith at Lime Cottage, Waterford, Ireland. Family members recount that Jonus worked as a municipal gardner, later head gardner, and his work took him to the Isle of Man, Ireland, and then back to Nelson, Lancashire where the family settled and Kenneth grew up. Like so many, as soon as he was old enough, Kenneth worked as a weaver in the local mill. During this period, he attented evening school at the local art college but his studies were curtailed by WW1 and volunteered, along with his brother Ernest, for the East Lancashire Regiment, seeing action as a despatch rider in The Gallipoli Campaign, also known as the Dardanelles Campaign, and Mesopotamia (Iraq). After the war he studied at The Royal College of Art (RCA) alongside Reco Capey and William Rothenstein and graduated in 1923 with an ARCA Diploma in Design. Kenneth married an actress, who had appeared in the film titled 'The Blue Lamp', and togethor they lived in Chelsea and very much part of the bohemian life. At some point (not sure of dates) they travelled to Rome where worked with stained glass. Togethor they had two children, Keith (my grandfather) and Sheila Joyce, however the marriage failed and he moved to Cambridge where he later remarried and set up Kenwin Studio.

He worked as designer in the 1930s at the Tapestries by Cambridge Tapestry Company at Anglesey Abbey, my aunt Joyce once showed me a large portfolio of sketches and notes for what would become tapestries and seat coverings.

I was fortunate enough to know him for the first fourteen years of my life, enjoying holidays by his side, watching sketch and paint usually in Devon and Cornwall. In addition, visiting him at weekends, eager to see what he had on his easel and to eat his ginger biscuits. However, my abiding memory is the smell of pipe tobacco and very strong coffee that was constantly on the stove. Even when I was very young, he would always encourage me to draw and later gave me my first set of oil paints and brushes. I would be very grateful if owners of his artwork could send me photos of his work.

Photos of Kenneth

Portrait artist Kenneth Baldwin-Smith featured in the Cambridge Evening News

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

Featured in the Cambridge Evening News

A young Kenneth whilst still living in Nelson, Lancashire

A young Kenneth

Whilst still living in Nelson and probably just before WW1

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith in Chanack, Dardanelles

Kenneth in uniform

"To Mother and Father with love from Kenneth, Chanack, Dardanelles, 1919"

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith well dressed

Kenneth seated

Presume 1922

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith 1922

Kenneth 1922 age 22

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith 960s

Kenneth in the 60s

Kenneth Baldwin-Smith sketching in Cornwall

Kenneth sketching in Cornwall

Various Art

Abstract oil painting by K Baldwin-Smith

Untitled

Oil on hardboard

I purchased this large painting from a local antique shop.

Very early watercolour landscape by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

Lighthouse

Watercolour

This image was kindly sent to me by the owner, Roger, who recently purchased it from the Penlee House gallery, Penzance. Kenneth was about 16 years old when he painted this in 1909 and is a copy of an oil painting titled Lighthouse by Stanhope Forbes, 1892.

Decorated firescreen

Firescreen

One of two firescreens he created that are still in the family. However, he created sold a number of them including some to the Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Portrait of Jeannie Watt Imlah by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

Portrait of Jeannie Watt Imlah

Oil painting

Jeannie Watt Imlah, from Buckie, Banffshire, Scotland. Kindly provided by her grandchildren, Fiona Firth and Alison Garrett. "Granny Imlah's husband died in 1926, of war wounds, leaving her with 4 children under the age of 6. From having retired from teaching to bring up the family she now had to turn her attention to running her husband’s business on her own. There is a kind of peace and strength I think reflected in this portrait."

1927 portrait

Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith aged 4, 1927

This is a portrait of Kenneth's daughter, my auntie, Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith who also went on to have a career as an artist. Thanks to Chris for sending me the images and to Geoff and Renee Nicholls who originally purchased the painting because it reminded them of their daughter.

Watercolour St Mary chursh, Great Shelford by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

St Mary the Virgin

Watercolour, 1971

St Mary the Virgin church, Great Shelford, near to Kenneth's studio.

Detail of watercolour of St Mary chursh, Great Shelford by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

St Mary the Virgin

Detail

Leadcut print

Leadcut

Print

Watercolour landscape by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

Hill Farm, Harston

Watercolour

View from Hill Farm, Harston towards Haslingfield and probably a study for a later oil painting.

Watercolour of Zennor, Cornwall by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

Finners Arms and Church, Zennor, Cornwall

Watercolour

Watercolour study for later painting. I sat with him whilst he quickly sketched this.

Conker by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith - oil on canvas

Conker

Oil on canvas

K Baldwin-Smith house and studio in Shelford - Oil on canvas

His house and studio, Shelford

Oil on canvas

Oil on board

Untitled

Oil on board

One of a pair painted in 1965. I purchased these at auction.

One of a pair of paintings, 1965

Untitled

Oil on board

One of a pair painted in 1965.

Portrait by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith - oil on canvas

Unkown Portrait

Oil on canvas

Thank you to the person who emailed the photo to me

Portrait - Oil on canvas

Portrait

Oil on canvas

I believe this a portrait of my aunt, Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith.

part of BBC ‘Your Paintings‘ project

George Harriman (1908–1973), Managing Director and Deputy Chairman, British Motor Corporation

Oil on canvas, dated 1962
"During our research at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust we discovered one painting entitled George Harriman (1908–1973), Managing Director and Deputy Chairman, British Motor Corporation." Part of BBC ‘Your Paintings‘ project.

Landscape study by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

Landscape study

Oil on board

Shelford in snow - 0il painting

Shelford in snow

Oil

Very close to where he had his art studio in the old Black Smith's house.

Watercolour of Newquay, Cornwall by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

The Island, West End Bowling Green, Newquay, Cornwall

Watercolour, 1972

Watercolour study for he Island, West End Bowling Green, Newquay Cornwall

Padstow Harbour, Watercolour study

The Harbour, Padstow, 1972

Watercolour

Watercolour study for later painting. Another painting I sat watched him capture.

Roses in vase - oil on canvas

Roses in vase

Oil on canvas

Watercolour - Flowers by K Baldwin-Smith, 1920

Flowers

Watercolour 1920

Photo courtesy of his great nieces and nephews who still reside in the area.

Hand painted letter holder

Front of letter holder

Hand painted letter holder

Chalk and pastel on brown paper by Kenneth Baldwin Smith RCA

Birches

Chalk and pastel on brown paper

Photo courtesy of his great nieces and nephews who still reside in the area.

Old Laund House, Pendle Forest, Nelson

Old Laund House Pendle, Forest, Nelson

Oil, painting and details

Half mile from where he grew up at Carr Mill. Photos courtesy of his great nieces and nephews who still reside in the area.

Roughlee, East Lancashire, oil painting

Roughlee, Nelson, East Lancashire

Oil on canvas

Photo kindly sent to me. It depicts the Village of Roughlee very close to where Kenneth was brought up.

August Sunset - watercolour painting

August Sunset

Watercolour painting, 1955

Painting depicting desert night scene with camel by Kenneth Baldwin Smith ARCA

Desert night scene with camel, probably Egypt

Painting, 1922

Photo courtesy of his great nieces and nephews who still reside in the area.

Print by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith ARCA

The Village Pump

Print

The village pump at the junction of High Street, Hauxton Road and Church Street, Little Shelford. Print featured on the Little Shelford History website.

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Little Shelford Blacksmith

Little Shelford, Blacksmith Shop

Print

His house studio is the building behind the shop. Print featured on the Little Shelford History website.

poster designs by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

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Posters for Parke Davis shaving foam, Tokalon face cream, Euthymol toothpaste, Chivers Jam and Eno's Fruit Salt.

Enchanted Garden, 1922 watercolour by Kenneth Baldwin-Smith

Enchanted Garden, 1922

Early Watercolour, kindly gifted to me from Anne a lady from the USA

Aladdin and the lamp - watercolour

Aladdin and the lamp

Watercolour

Painting of dogs

Untitled

Oil on canvas

Oil painting featuring two dogs - presume a commission. Photo kindly sent by Craig.

Landscape featuring grouse, oil painting

Untitled

Oil on canvas

Probably Lancashire scene featuring grouse.

Portrait of Judge

Portrait of (unknown) Judge

Oil on canvas

Portrait

Portrait (unknown)

Oil on canvas

Photo of art work

Untitled

My aunt Sheila said this was a photo on one of his designs

Roughlee, East Lancashire, oil painting

Decorated Vase

Art Nouveau

Photo courtesy of his great nieces and nephews who still reside in the area.

His sketchbook

Below are scans from Kenneth's sketch books, kindly given to me by a person who found them in a loft. They date from his days at ..... and later Royal Society of Art. There is also a small sketch I found tucked inside it is dated 1919 (during his time in World War 1) and is titled the 'narrows Dardanelles Dardanos fort'. In addition, I have scanned a letter (also tucked in one of the books) that I presume he received in his early career.

Pencil sketch of the Narrows Dardanelles Dardanos fort, 1919

Narrows Dardanelles Dardanos fort, 1919

Pencil on card, signed KBS

Sketchbook page

Sketchbook

Dated 1913, when Kenneth enrolled at Nelson School of Art

English Gothic

Page from sketchbook

Titled English Gothic

Appears to be a design for a poster

Page from sketchbook

Appears to be a design for a poster

Cleopatra study

Page from sketchbook

Cleopatra

Pencil study

Page from sketchbook

Appears to be a sketch of a model or sculpture.

Greek study from sketchbook

Page from sketchbook

Greek study

Egyptian study

Page from sketchbook

Egyptian study

Pencil study

Page from sketchbook

Drawing from life, around 1921 whilst at RCA

Cows from sketchbook

Page from sketchbook

Sketches of cows

Landscape study

Page from sketchbook

Landscape sketch, note the notes of colours, he was still doing this in his 80s. I recall sketches with codes all over them to be used back in his studio when he created a painting.

Tree study

Page from sketchbook

Tree study

Perspective lesson study

Page from sketchbook

Perspective lesson

Plant study

Page from sketchbook

Plant study, dated 1921 at RCA, signed KB Smith

Letter, Grosvenor House

Letter

Letter dated 1934 to Kenneth refusal to sit for portrait

Other family members

Below are a few works by others members of his family; his son Keith, daughter Joyce Sheila (she painted under both names) and Shiela's son Richard E Douglas. His great grandaughter (my cousin) Tamara Carse also teaches and produces ceramics.

Poster design

Poster design

By Keith Baldwin-Smith

Abstract painting by Sheila Joyce Baldwin-Smith

Abstract Painting

By Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith, reproduced as cards

Painting by R.E.D

Snow Scene

By Richard E Douglas, oil on board

Oil painting signed S Baldwin

Garden Scene

By Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith, oil on board

Oil painting signed S Baldwin

Untitled

By Joyce Sheila Baldwin-Smith, oil on board

Painting by R.E.D

Night Scene

By Richard E Douglas, oil on board

Painting by R.E.D

Farm Scene

By Richard E Douglas, oil on board

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