Landscape Paintings by Bruce Bairnsfather

Throughout his life one of Bruce Bairnsfather's greatest relaxations was painting, particularly landscapes. In his later years, post-WW2, he commented that he preferred painting to cartooning. He especially fond of the landscapes around parts of Shropshire - "Clun country" as he called it - and the Wye, "which takes some beating." Every year he would make repeated visits to his favourite spots and spend two or three weeks indulging in his passion.

Writing in the book The Bairnsfather Case (1920), William A Mutch gave a glimpse of the cartoonists talent as a painter: "It is, as far as colour work is concerned, in landscape that Bairnsfather is most happy, and it is simply a question of time, bound by the extraordinary demands which have been made on him since he became famous, until he will be able to free himself to do first-class work of this kind - work which he is very capable of doing, and which is entirely after his own heart.

Below are examples of some of Bruce Bairnsfather's landscape paintings. Click on any of the paintings to see a larger image. 

If you can identify any of the 'unknown' locations or have any landscape or other paintings by Bruce Bairnsfather, please get in touch using the 'Contact Me' page on this website. 
Bridge at main entrance to Downton Castle, Downton on the Rock, Herefordshire
This painting was submitted by Bruce Bairnsfather for inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1945. It was rejected. He had considered submitting the painting under another name, in order to get an unbiased appraisal. 

View of the village of Wistanstow, Shropshire

Wistanstow is about 2 miles from Craven Arms in Shropshire. Bruce Bairnsfather was a regular visitor to the Stokesay Castle Inn at Craven Arms in the 1940's and 1950's, and painted many local beauty spots in the area.

Castle Bridge, Downton Castle Estate, Downton on the Rock, Herefordshire

This painting shows Castle Bridge, where the original southern approach to Downton Castle crossed the River Wye.

Castle Bridge, Downton Castle Estate, Downton on the Rock, Herefordshire

Although annotated 'Study for Teme' this painting, as can be seen, is painted from exactly the same spot as the above picture. This version is quite 'rough' and therefore may have been a preliminary painting. 

View of Clun village, Shropshire

Another of Bruce Bairnsfather's favourite spots. The villages Norman church, St George's, can be seen in the top left of the painting.

Stokesay Castle, Stokesay, Shropshire

Bruce Bairnsfather's impression of the magnificent 13th century fortified manor house, which sill stands today.

Stokesay Castle, Stokesay, Shropshire

Another view of Stokesay Castle, painted from the opposite side.

Tewkesbury Abbey, Gloucestershire

Bruce Bairnsfather would often stop off at Tewkesbury when driving up to Shropshire from his home in Sussex, in the late 1940's. This is believed to be one of several paintings he made, in this instance the Abbey sits in the background of the picture.

Evening on the Wye

The exact location of the bridge in this painting is not known, but it must have been submitted for exhibit, as it still bears the exhibition label (pictured below) on the reverse. Bairnsfather lived at Colwall from 1951-54.

Breeze Through the Willows

The exact location of this scene is not known, but it is believed to be one of several paintings Bruce Bairnsfather made at the same spot, each picturing a different view.

Location unknown

Possibly another painting made at the same location as the above picture, from another viewpoint.

Location unknown

Possibly another painting made at the same location as 'Breeze Through the Willows' and the above picture, from another viewpoint.

Location unknown

Possibly the River Wye, 'somewhere in Herefordshire.' 

Location unknown

Possibly somewhere in Shropshire.

Northchapel, Suxssex

Painting by Bruce Bairnsfather, done for a neighbour in the village of Northchapel, Sussex. 

Cabin at Lake Pushaw, Maine

Ahead of the start of his post-war lecture tours of America, Bruce Bairnsfather stayed at a cabin at Lake Pushaw, Maine, loaned to him through a Marine Corps Colonel he befriended in Northern Ireland while serving with the US Forces in WW2. He painted as much as he could - this is believed to be one of his paintings done at Pushaw.