Art School study of a seated nude

Roland Suddaby 1912 -1972, was an English watercolourist and oil painter. Suddaby predominately painted in watercolour and mostly landscapes form his home in Suffolk. However he won a scholarship at the Sheffield College of art and studied studied there until 1926, he then travelled to London in 1931 and exhibited at the Wertheim and The Redfern Galleries. At the start of WW11 he moved out of London to the provinces like some other artists who had experienced their studios and works lost or damaged through the bombing. This watercolour is a monochrome brown wash and is quite rare for Suddaby who was a landscape artist, consequently we concluded that this picture was painted when he was at art school, Sheffield, and it almost certainly dates before 1926. He was already making a name for himself within the artists community and therefore signed the work, which in itself is unusual for a student as their works are generally much criticised during their early days and avoidance of such confrontation is regularly seen to be avoided and artists are known to hide or disguise their name, but not here. Whether he was known personally to the sitter is unknown but he was confident enough to sign it. Well done Roland !