SUMMERS, Gerald

1886 - 1969

Gerald Summers was born at Mottram in Longdendale, Stalybridge, Cheshire on 10 May 1886, son of John Summers (1857-20 May 1910), ironmaster, and his wife Ada Jane née Broome (16 January 1862-16 January 1944), who married at St Paul's Church, Oldham, Lancashire on 4 October 1881. In 1891, Gerald Summers was living at 'Inglewood', Mottram Road, Stalybridge, Cheshire with his parents, 34-year-old John and 29-year-old Ada Jane and siblings Kathleen 8, John Broome 6 and Ada Norah 3, all born at Stalybridge. Gerald studied at Slade School of Fine Art 1905-1909 and was a member of the Ipswich Art Club 1909-1911 giving his address as Inglewood, Stalybridge but does not seem to have exhibited, he also exhibited at the New English Art Club 1907 'Notre Dame, Paris' and in 1909, a drawing 'The Cathedral, Brugos'. He returned to London and in 1911, lodged at a hotel at 6 York Street, St James, Westminster. He married Chelsea Old Church, London in September 1912, the well-known artist Nora Munro (19 March 1892-26 December 1948) and they had a prolonged honeymoon in Italy 1912-1913, where both artists worked closely together on topographical paintings and etchings of Italian cities, after which they led a Bohemian lifestyle including a friendship with Augustus John (1878-1961). After his First World War service in France, in 1923 they settled at Ferndown, Dorset where he took up toy and furniture making. In 1939, an artist, living at 'Greenworlds', Wimborne Road, Wimborne, Dorset with his wife Nora. He exhibited at the Poole & East Dorset Art Club; Chenil Galleries and Redfern Gallery and at the Walker Art Gallery, having a solo exhibition of his watercolours at Paterson Gallery in June 1930 which included 'The Stour near Blandford' and 'Ibsley'. His wife Nora, who had her portrait painted by Henry Taylor Lamb (1883-1960), became an alcoholic and she died at Ferndown, Bournemouth on 26 December 1948, aged 56, leaving several pictures by Augustus John, Philip Wilson Steer, Stanley Spencer and James Dickson Innes to the City of Liverpool. Gerald Summers died at Green Worlds, Wimborne Road, Ferndown, Dorset on 12 December 1969. He is often conflated with a Gerald Summers (1899–1967), furniture designer.

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Works by This Artist