Maritime artist John Chancellor was one of Brixham's famous stars

Significant people who lived with in Torbay in the 20th century, not always famous, by Ian Handford, president of Torbay Civic Society.
This week, 18 - John Chancellor
Born to British parents abroad, from his early childhood John Chancellor would sit and watch the so-called Grand Bank Schooners sailing on the nearby River Tagus, Portugal, where he lived until age nine.
The family then moved to Hastings, where it soon became apparent to trawlermen 'here was a boy being a true son of the sea'.
John spent years at sea which maybe is why his artwork was so meticulous whether in watercolour or oil. His painting was so detailed he portrayed the essence of seas and ships while even capturing the changing seasons and weather patterns.
He met his future wife, Rita, in 1947 when she was 16 and he 22. John had run away to sea at age 17 but had returned to his parents' home at Sevenoaks, knowing his career ahead lay in earning his living as a maritime artist.
Meanwhile, Rita's parents although supporting the romance, would not allow Rita to be engaged until she turned 17 which ensured the couple spending two years 'tramping the streets of London' as they both sought to discover art galleries which might purchase some of John's early work.
Then, in 1949, they discovered an old barge called The Viper. Having moored it at Rochester on the Medway, they now made this their home.
They spent 11 idyllic years on the barge even though Rita sadly contracted polio and as a bride, had to limp up the aisle. Now they produced four babies on the barge from a marriage that would last 33 years, during which time John became recognised as one of Britain's most skilled maritime artists.
But now he wanted to fly. It seems he became bored undertaking full-time painting. Later, he admitted after obtaining his licence 'flying gave him the stimulus to work'.
John produced 18 famous oils plus a completely unknown quantity of watercolours. Much of his early work hangs in family homes around Brixham, unknown and unlisted yet from time to time, resurfaces when sold.
Having arrived in Brixham in 1967, John's wish at first was to buy a trawler. He would paint at sea and also at home on bad weather days, although he never really took to fishing itself.
He eventually sold his trawler, Therese, and bought the vessel, The Exact, a hydrographic survey ship commissioned by companies to do detailed ocean surveys - another skill!
But again he discovered he 'loathed being away from home' and so, with The Exact sold in the 1970s, he finally set up his art studio in the garden shed at No 73 Kingsford on South Furzeham Road, Brixham.
Some 50 years later - long after his death - Torbay Civic Society and the family unveiled a blue plaque to honour the fantastic artist.
It was John's technical accuracy which was so unique, emanating from his many years at sea which undoubtedly was his first love, art his second.
He had appreciated it was impossible to capture and paint the sea realistically, as it was constantly on the move although he could and did capture the powerful violent seas where as he said men 'were fragile and frighteningly vulnerable intruders'.
He described himself as having 'a neurosis for accuracy' and his detailed research always included everything visible on board any ship painted.
By 1984, John's reputation as a skilled maritime artist, and a demand for his original oils and watercolours around the world, was amazing.
Having employed an agent and having worked tirelessly during 1983-1984 to complete a fine art book he entitled The Maritime Paintings of John Chancellor, suddenly on April 9, 1984, John died.
Always modest and charming, now his wife Rita and his agent Austin Hawkins decided to produce a second book, The Classic Paintings of John Chancellor, when numerous editions were published.
For a John Chancellor colour pamphlet which includes a picture of him at his easel, send two first class stamps and a small stamped addressed envelope to Torbay Civic Society, Suite 4, The Business Centre, 1 Palace Avenue, Paignton TQ3 3HA
IAN'S COMMENT. This amazing artist is one of Brixham's famous stars and Torbay Civic Society's blue plaque at the gatepost of his home is worth viewing.
NEXT WEEK - Wilfred Owen (poet)