Marrin's Bookshop

Synopsis

17th july

Item Description

Pencil drawing with ink washes (blue and black), 14 x 8.25 inches, in conservation acid-free mount, glazed and reframed in lime-washed wood. The reverse of the picture is also glazed to preserve the original backing board inscribed with the title and date in the artist's hand, and the original exhibition label showing that the picture was shown at the New Metropole Arts Centre, Folkestone, probably in the exhibition of 1969 which, as well as Holt, showed works by Alina Mroczkowska and Kevin Hennessey.

Provenance

Acquired by Ann Nevill (founder, Nevill Gallery, Canterbury) at said exhibition, and subsequently acquired from her estate in 2013.

Notes

The drawing shows a "Bristol" type 170 air ferry plane on the ground at Lydd Airport in Kent (then known as Lydd Ferryfield) which was operated by British United Airways. The loading doors at the front of the plan are both open and a maintenance operator is cleaning the plane's windscreen. Originally commissioned by Linda René-Martin, Production Manager at Shell Aviation News to illustrate an article on air freight services and Shell's role developing the industry, she remembers this picture hanging for many years in the Divisional Manager's office.
David Holt was born in Hythe, Kent in 1928. He studied at Carmarthen School of Art; Sidney Cooper School, Canterbury; Hammersmith School of Art, and the Royal Academy Schools. His work was shown in the inaugural exhibition of The New Metropole Arts Centre, Folkestone in 1961. His work is represented in the collections of The Contemporary Art Society; Hull City Art Gallery; Surrey County Council; Kent County Council; Graves Art Gallery, Sheffield; Liverpool University; the Education Committee collections of Norfolk and Essex; the University of Tennessee; and the Museum of West Texas. He was a full-time lecturer of Painting and Art History at Canterbury Christ Church College, retiring in 1993 as Head of Art and Design. As well as exhibiting widely, he was also well-known as a lecturer on art history, particularly at The New Metropole Arts Centre.