Well known Authors and Artists connected to Burnham and the Dengie Hundred
The character of this area has inspired many artists and authors. Listed below are some of the better known artists and authors connected with this area.
Authors
Robert Barnard
Born as Jerry Bauer on 23 November 1936 he grew up in
Burnham-on-Crouch before leaving for a University education
which launched a glittering career as an author.
As Robert Barnard he is the author of 36 novels featuring the
characters Perry Trethowan, Charlie Peach and Oddie.
Samuel Levy Bensusan
Samuel Been ( b.1873 -d.1958) lived at Asheldham and St Lawrence
. He became famous for novels centered on a fictitious village
called Maychester which were affectionate portrayals of life in
the Essex Marshes.
Click here for details of the Bensusan archive
Daniel Defoe
From 1724-1726 Author Daniel Defoe travelled the Country recording his trek in " Tour through the whole island of Great Britain". His remarks on Burnham and the Dengie 100 were limited to ' the strange decay of sex' with an explanation that many men had numerous wives who they took from the uplands but the wives rarely survived in the fog and damps of the marshland and died within a year or so at which the men just went back to the uplands and got another wife
Una was born at Buckhurst Hill in 1872
Following the success oin 1899 of her first book, The Enchanter, she wrote more than 40 books many of which were best sellers.
She moved to Burnham on Crouch with her sister and became involved in life in the town although her brother Oswald remained at Buckhurst Hill to become one of the most eminent scientests of his day.
She died in 1955 and was buried in the town cemetery.
H G Wells
In his classic book War of the Worlds HG Wells used the area as
a setting for his Martian invasion.
" Then far away beyond the Crouch, came another striding over
some stunted trees, and then yet another still farther off
wading deeply through a shiny mud flat half way up between sea
and sky. By midday they passed through Tillingham, which
strangely enough seemed silent and deserted, save for a few
furtive plunderers hunting for food. Near Tillingham they
suddenly came into sight of the sea, and the most amazing crowd
of shipping of all sorts that it is possible to imagine."
Artists
Mick Cawston PAINTER
Mick Cawston was born in 1959 at Dagenham, Essex he moved to a
farm cottage in Burnham on Crouch in about 1983 and sold his
paintings in local markets. By 1987 he became an established
artist recognised as the No1 Dog and Horse painter in the
country. Mick has had many exhibitions and his works hang in
Galleries all over the world.
Roland Collins was born in 1918 at Kensal Rise, London and quickly an artistic talent was displayed by winning local competitions and gaining entry to an Art School. He earned his living as an illustrator while painting the landscapes of London and the Home Counties that were to make him famous in his long lfe which sadly ended in 2015.
As a keen sailor he moored his yacht at Burnham on Crouch and enjoyed visiting the town which he captured in his paintings.
Born 1865 Died 1930
Alice Fanner was a renowned painter specialising in marine
landscapes.
She was tutored by Julius Olsson and exhibited paintings at many
galleries including the Royal Academy. She lived in St Ives,
Cornwall and London but in 1914 she moved to Burnham on Crouch
where she painted the landscape and the yachting scene. She ws
married to Australian businessman Arhtur Edward Taite.
He paintings include The Seaside, Provenance, In the Luxembourg
garden, Bogiaco, Lake Garda and yachts racing
Click here to view her paintings
Alfred Hitchcock was born and
brought up in the East End . When asked, by the Times Newspaper,
the inspiration for his atmospheric films he cited his
experience from a Visit to Burnham on Crouch in November.
Would North by North West , Psycho or the Birds have been made
without a visit to Burnham?
Born 1912 Died 1981
A celebrated artist who painted in oil or pen an ink showing
people and places around him
He lived in Burnham in the early 1950's with his wife Joyce and
painted the area and its people whilst his wife worked locally
as a teacher. During his stay in Burnham he painted ' joyce' ,
'Continental Sunday' ,' still life with chrysanthemums and
Maldon.
Geoffrey Wickham SCULPTOR
Geoffrey was born in Wembley in 1920 and his artistic flair led to his attendance at Willesden School of Art and then the Royal College of Art.
He used these skills to become a lecturer at Westminster University but in his spare time he developed an expertise in both painting and sculpture being responsible for many sculptures in public places.
In 1972 he won the BBS Silver medal for the most distinguished scuplture in London.
He moved to Burnham on Crouch in 1986 and continued with sculptures, often from Terracotta and ink drawings.
Even when registered blind he continued to sculpt and draw with the help of assistants until his death in 2005.