About the artists:
James Frederick Thomas
(1863-1941) Spent his early childhood in Beacon and in
1890 married Beacon native Bessie Cock (1868-1943?). He ran a painting and
decorating business at the top of Trelowarren Street in Camborne. The painting
reproduced on this website of the well at Treslothan in 1890 is one of
only three known of his surviving paintings.
William Wilfred Thomas
(1891-1981) Eldest son of James Frederick and Bessie
Thomas. After qualifying as a Master Decorator, he survived four years active
service on the Western Front during the 1914-1918 war. When he returned from
the war he entered the family business and became and enthusiastic amateur
artist. He painted almost exclusively in oils and his characteristic style
makes bold use of the palette knife in a style influenced by the
Post-Impressionist movement.
Arthur Leslie Thomas
(1899-1982) The youngest son of James Frederick and
Bessie Thomas. Educated at Westminster College, London where he trained as a
teacher. After spending a short period teaching in Plymouth, he returned to
the Camborne-Redruth area and spent the large part of his career teaching at
Trewirgie School in Redruth. A life-long amateur artist who sketched
landscapes throughout West Cornwall he was equally at home in water and oil
colour. He frequently painted in the company of his brother Wilfred
Thomas . A great admirer of Stanhope Forbes and the Newlyn School of painters,
he preferred working in the open air, sketching directly onto paper or canvas,
giving his work a freshness and immediacy undiminished by the passage of time.
1) The well at Treslothan by James Frederick
Thomas, watercolour, signed and dated 1890. For many years this painting was
in the collection of his youngest son, Arthur Leslie Thomas and is now in the
Canadian home of his grand-daughter Gillian Thomas.
2) Roadway fields between Camborne and Beacon by
Arthur Leslie Thomas, oil on canvas, initialed by the artist. Probable date
1950s.
3) Stennack cottages by Arthur Leslie Thomas, oil
on board, unsigned. Probable date about 1950.
The unusual diamond-leaded windows are a feature of these granite-built
Pendarves estate cottages.
4) John Wesley's Tree at Knave-Go-By by Wilfred
Thomas, oil on board, unsigned. Probably painted around 1960.
5) Treslothan Church by Arthur Leslie Thomas,
unsigned watercolour sketch.
6) Treslothan Church by Arthur Leslie Thomas,
unsigned watercolour sketch. Both this and (4) probably painted about 1960.
7) Post box at Treslothan by Arthur Leslie
Thomas, unsigned watercolour sketch. Probably painted about 1960.
8) Plantation Chapel by Arthur Leslie Thomas,
unsigned watercolour sketch. Probably painted in the early 1960s.
Click on small images to see a large image in a new
window. All pictures have been digitally marked with a copyright notice.
1. The well at Treslothan
2. Roadway fields between Camborne
and Beacon
3. Stennack Cottages
4. John Wesley's Tree, Knavegoby
5. Treslothan Church
6. Treslothan Church
7. Postbox at Treslothan
8. Plantation Chapel, Troon
