Louise J Rayner (1832-1924) was a gifted and prolific artist who lived in Chester for many years and produced numerous fine watercolour studies of the city's streets and buildings as they were in the 19th century. Her work remains very popular today and many of her paintings are available as reproduction prints- stockists include Chester History & Heritage in St. Michael's Church, Bridge Street and the Grosvenor Museum . Grosvenor Street- which also possesses the country's largest collection of her original works.
Louise was born in 1832 in Matlock Bath ,
Derbyshire (although one authority says in Markeaton Street, Derby),
the second daughter in a family of five girls and a boy. Both of her
parents were painters and they encouraged all of their children to
follow their example. Her father, Samuel, was a talented and well-known
watercolourist who specialised in architectural and historical subjects.
He had first exhibited in London in 1821 and in 1845 was elected an
Associate of the Old Watercolour Society .
Unfortunately, in 1851 he became involved in a serious fraud case, for which he was convicted and afterwards was shunned by his previously wide circle of artist friends and expelled from the Watercolour Society. He nontheless continued to exhibit until near his death in 1874.
Unfortunately, in 1851 he became involved in a serious fraud case, for which he was convicted and afterwards was shunned by his previously wide circle of artist friends and expelled from the Watercolour Society. He nontheless continued to exhibit until near his death in 1874.
