Thomas Cooper Gotch (1854 - 1931)

Painter, born in Kettering, Northamptonshire. Studied at Heatherley's and the Slade School, 1879 and with Jean-Paul Laurens in Paris, 1880-83. He visited Newlyn, Cornwall, in 1881 where he was to later marry the painter, Caroline Yates, settling there in 1887. He was influenced by Bastien-Lepage and favoured narrative subjects. They visited Australia in 1883, and on return to Britain, Gotch helped in the foundation of the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists, becoming the President of that body from 1913-28. The Gotches moved to Newlyn in 1887, although Gotch was familiar with the area from as long ago as 1871, and he became one of the colony of artists there. Though Gotch produced many pictures in the Newlyn School manner, and also helped in the foundation of the New English Art Club in 1888, his style completely altered following a visit to Italy in 1891-92. He was also elected NSA in 1895 and was Chairman of that body from 1924-