Albert George Strange 1855-1917, fl.1878-97, landscape and coastal painter exhibited at the Royal Academy 1881-97, Member Royal Society of British Artists and Royal Institute of Watercolour Painters.

Born in Gravesend, he acquired an early interest in small sailing vessels and later became an important boat designer of small cruising yachts. He simultaneously pursued a career in painting after studying art at the Slade School of Fine Art, then the Leicester College of Arts and Crafts, departing there in 1878, to teach art for a short while in Liverpool.

Around 1882 he took up the post of headmaster at the new Scarborough School of Art, a position he held for 35 years until his death. In Scarborough he was influenced by Paul Marny (1829-1914) a noted Anglo-French artist who had moved to the town in 1860. He has a strong following and there is also an active Albert Strange Society.

This delightful and atmospheric little watercolour is so typical of his work and captures his style admirably. In 1885 he travelled extensively through Scotland painting what he saw and this scene is quite likely to be one painted then. The heather clad hills yonder share the purplish palate he used on other works. The workers in the foreground appear to be harvesting a field of grain.

Dimensions are 10¼” x 7¾” actual size of image, glazed and undisturbed in a plain (and later) mahogany frame 14½” x 12” overall. Condition good but please study the pics and make up your own mind.

A rare opportunity.