Ken Ford
HUBERT WILLIAMS
I first became aware of the artist Hubert Williams over 50 years ago when I came across his sketches of London scenes in 1930s copies of Blue Peter magazine that I had inherited from my Grandfather (see www.kenford.me.uk )
I saved them all and framed four of them. Then, 50 years later, in a gallery iin Cambridge, I came across the original drawing for a copy of the magazine. I bought it, framed it, and displayed it alongside the others (see far right)
Eventually I succeeded in tracking down the edition of the magazine (June 1927) for which it was drawn (above left). Since then I have looked out for other examples of his work and have acquired these three signed originals:
As well as drawing for newspapers and magazines, Hubert Williams' commercial work included school wallcharts and children's book illustrations.
I have a copy of 'The Little White Duck' that he illustrated, a sample page of which is shown below. Alongside it is a 1941 menu folder for the Royal Mail Lines ship, SS Andes, which features his painting.
2021
I have now have the two watercolours shown on the right, both by Hubert Williams. The church is St. Lukes, Chelsea where Charles Dickens married Catherine Hogarth in 1836. The Old Oast House was painted in 1946.
2022
I bought this large (48cm square) original drawing in ink by Williams of 34 Great Tower Street, London.
It was a merchants house of 1668, one of the first to be built in the City after the Great Fire of London. It was destroyed by enemy action in World War II.
Hubert Williams 1905-1989 Studied at the Royal Academy Schools and St. Martin's School of Art