THE SKETCHES OF LOCAL ARTIST - BEN ROBSON

BEN ROBSON – BRIEF BIOGRAPHY

Ben Robson is a self-taught artist, raised in the economically depressed twenties and thirties; a member of a large artistic, working class family. Even as a boy Ben had the eyes of an artist, able to observe beauty wherever it may occur, and living as he did in an area where the sprawl of Tottenham merged with the countryside, he could not but be aware of contrast between the rural and urban environment.

Ben is a home loving man, returning home after the war he cleaned shop windows in Tottenham High Street, which kept the family fed and enabled him to spend the bulk of his time with his wife Doreen and their five children. He was, and remains, a devoted father and husband, enjoying with his family camping holidays that spanned the length and breadth of Britain.

During his working week in Tottenham he captured many instances of urban life, colourful illustrations of people alighting from red buses or package laden women gossiping outside grocery shops on busy, rain-washed streets.
Ben has undertaken commission work and exhibited widely throughout his career, receiving much well-deserved praise from critics and fellow artists alike. His extended family includes numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and his first great great grandchild is expected shortly. Many of the children are recorded in paint and pastel and he continues to produce work today despite the fact that in January 2014 he celebrated his 94th birthday.

We are indebted to Pat Wilson (nee Robson) and Judith Arnopp (nee Robson), the daughters of Ben Robson, for providing us with the images and giving their permission for us to publish them on our website.

NOTE: With further permission some additional coloured sketches have now been added to this collection at the end of this article,  (October 2015)

JUST A FEW OF BEN  ROBSON'S MANY SKETCHES OF TOTTENHAM OVER THE PAST 60 + YEARS

ALL HALLOWS CHURCH

BRUCE CASTLE

BRUCE GROVE

CAFE OPPOSITE BURGESS'S STORE

WINDSORS SOLICITORS -HIGH ROAD

PRINCE OF WALES - HIGH ROAD

THE 'SPURS' - PARK LANE ASPECT

THE 'CORNER PIN' - PARK LANE

THE QUEENS HEAD - SCOTLAND GREEN

SCOTLAND GREEN - LOOKING WEST

THE ''TWO BREWERS' SCOTLAND GREEN

THE 'ELMHURST' - LORDSHIP LANE

TOTTENHAM - HIGH CROSS

DEMOLITION - HIGH CROSS ROAD

THE LIBRARY - TOTTENHAM HIGH CROSS

THE SWAN - TOTTENHAM HIGH CROSS

THE OLD PUMP & HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

THE 'FERRY BOAT INN' - FERRY LANE-TOTTENHAM

STONEBRIDGE LOCK - TOTTENHAM c1939

BENEATH THE BRIDGE - TOTTENHAM LOCK - c1954

PAT & CHERRY - ON THE GATES - STONEBRIDGE LOCK c1954

THESE ADDITIONAL COLOURED SKETCHES BY BEN ROBSON HAVE BEEN ADDED        (WITH PERMISSION)