STEVENS, Henry Potter

1875 - 1965

Henry Potter Stevens was born at Park Lane, London on 28 February 1875, eldest child of Henry William Stevens (1837-15 March 1904), a veterinary surgeon, and his wife Emma Potter, fourth daughter of Henry Potter of Streatham Lodge, who married at Christ Church, Streatham on 11 December 1873. In 1881, Henry was a 6-year-old, living at 9 Park Lane, Mayfair with his parents, Henry 42 and Emma 36, with his two siblings Fanny 4 and William 2, both born in London. Henry went up to Oxford to read Chemistry where he gained a First in 1896 this was followed by a PhD from Heidelberg University in Germany in 1899. He excelled in his profession and soon became a prominent chemist for the rubber industry and published two academic books 'The Paper Mill Chemist' (1908) and 'Rubber' (1915) and was a consultant to the Rubber Growers Association for over thirty years up to the start of the Second World War. He married at Fuller Baptist Church, Kettering, Northamptonshire on 7 September 1904, Edith Bloom Meadows (14 November 1878-18 January 1956), third daughter of William Meadows, shoe manufacturer, of Beech House, Kettering. In 1911, Henry was a 36-year-old analytical chemist living at 16 Brookfield Park, Highgate Road, London with his 32-year-old wife and their 1-year-old son, Philip Rowe Stevens, born at St Pancras, London. Following a divorce, he married secondly at Croydon in 1925, Dorothy Ann Dexter (15 February 1902-4 April 1987) and in 1939 an analytical chemist, living at Mills Farm, Redisham, Beccles, Suffolk with his wife Dorothy. Successful career aside, he was also a talented painter, and his watercolours were widely acclaimed, and he exhibited at the Royal Academy, and he also exhibited at Colnaghi and in the provinces. A member of Ipswich Art Club 1942-1953 from Mills Farm, Redisham, Beccles, Suffolk exhibiting five watercolours in 1941, 'Winter Sunshine', 'A Gloomy Day', 'Winter's Day', 'The Three Elms' and 'The Main Road' and seven the following year 'Ruth', 'Charlotte', 'The Road to the Common', 'Syleham', 'Sunlit Woodland', 'The Farm' and 'Storm', six works in 1944 'The Lower Gates, Stoke-by-Nayland', 'The Plantation', 'The Dart near Totnes', 'Townley Road, Dulwich', 'After the Harvest' and 'Kew Gardens' and was a regular exhibitor. Also, a member of the Norfolk & Norwich Art Circle 1946-1960 from Redisham. Henry Potter Stevens died at Mills Farm, Redisham, Beccles on 3 January 1965, aged 89. He was the major collector and expert on Japanese inrô (to carry identity seals and medicine) as well as his collections of Chinese art, scientific instruments, and gentleman's accessories, the former dispersed in a posthumous sale at Sotheby's in 1966, his collection of inrô was sold by Bonham's on 19 October 2012.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from Leicester House, Leicester Road, Croydon
1930 889 West Wickham Gate - watercolour

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Works by This Artist