Gallery
William Page Atkinson Wells
William Wells was born in Glasgow in 1872 and died in Appledore Devon in 1923. At the peak of his career he was in the first rank of British landscape painters. For several summers between c1903 and 1909 he lived at Sunderland Point and created many wonderful pictures inspired by the Point.
We have collected a number of these and show below. This is not complete and we would be pleased to hear of other Well’s paintings of the Point. We have attributed where we can and have permissions. However, some are taken from the public domain where ownership is unknown, we will quickly correct any shown in error.
A biography of William Wells to recognise the centenary of his death in May 1923 has been prepared by us and has been published in the magazine of the website and can be read by following this link.
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The Sunderland Point paintings of William Wells
William Page Atkinson Wells
Many of the titles and dates of his paintings have not survived. This first group we are sure were painted in and around Sunderland Point.
1. "Landscape with White House" c 1900(?). Number 3A First Terrace: From the collection of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery Preston.
2. "Maid fetching Water" 1908. Identified as the yard outside the entrance to 3A. The stable is on the right, the gate, on the left leads into the garden at number 3: In a private collection
3. Cottages, Sunderland Point. The 'Cotton Tree' looking towards First Terrace: From a private collection.
4. Title and date unknown. The 'Cotton Tree': From the the collection of the Gilchrist family
5. The Cotton Tree: From a private collection.
6. The Cotton Tree, no date. A completed work
7. "A Lancashire Village" 1908: Courtesy City of Edinburgh Museums
8. "Drying the Nets" c1908: In a private collection
9. "Chatting at the Gate, 1907. This is the rear of Second Terrace, it is the side gate to number 18. In a private collection.
10. The village from th opposite side of the river. c1906. In a private collection.
11. Watercolour sketch of Second Terrace "On the Skeer" 1907, exhibited Glasgow Art Club: In a private collection.
12. "A Lancashire Farm". Rear view of Second Terrace. Date unknown: In a private collection
12." Waiting for the Boats", On Second Terrace with river behind: In a private collection.
13. "The Lune at Sunderland Point" c1910 (?): In the Harris Museum, Preston.
14. "A Landscape" c1906, possibly a preparatory sketch for 'Home acrosss the Sands" : In a private collection
15. "Home Across the Sands" 1907: Courtesy of Gallery Oldham
16: Fishing boats: In a private collection.
17. "Waiting for the Fleet": From a private collection.
18. "A Grey Day at the Beach": In a private collection
19. "Gathering Mussels" c 1907: In a private collection.
20. "Mussel Picking", a watercolour circa 1908: In a private collection.
21. "The Mussel Gatherers of Sunderland Point" c1908: Courtesy of Fleetwood Museum.
22. "A Summer Afternoon" c.1907: Courtesy of Paisley Museum and Art Galleries
23. "Sunderland Point" (?) 1907: From a private collection.
24: " The Carrier's House" c1907: Courtesy of the Gilchrist family
25. "On the edge of the Marsh" c1907: From a private collection.
26. "Summer Meadows" 1905: From a private collection.
27. Attributed to Wells. Helen with 3A in background: From a private collection.
This group of images we are not so sure.
1. Unknown c 1905
2. "The Lilac Sunbonnet" undated but perhaps c1905, a highly regarded painting. In a private collection
3. "The Picnic" undated. In a private collection.
4. "Landscape - Girl in a Meadow" 1905: In the Harris Museum, Preston.
5: "Feeding Chickens 1898 (?) In a private collection.
6: "Feeding the Hens" no date. In a private collection.
Some other images of interest and favourites
1. Second Terrace, Sunderland Point, as Wells would have known it. A John Walker photograph c1905. Courtesy Lancaster City Museums.
2. James and Elizabeth Bowker outside number 14, James was the farmer here and Wells stayed at the house when first visiting SP
3. Helen Gordon Wells, William's wife.
4. Helen Gordon Wells, William's wife.
5. Philip T. Gilchrist who probably introduced Wells to the village, they painted and exhibited together and became close friends. Photo courtesy of the Gilchrist family.
6. Philip T. Gilchrist and his sister Theo painting at SP. A George Gilchrist the younger photo courtesy of the Gilchrist family.
7. "Sea Pinks" 1908, A painting by Philip that was said to be influence by Wells, see "Summer Meadows" the Wells painting - number 26.
8. "A Manx Landscape" 1912: A favourite: Glasgow Museums.
9. ."'The Two Sisters' and the "Francis Beddoe'" , another favourite: Dundee Art Galleries.
10. "Summer Morning" in a private collection.
11. "Feeding the Hens", The Fleming Gallery.
12. " The Moany Well", McLean Museum and Art Gallery.
13. "Field Workers", Museum of Ulster.
