ROWSELL, Irene May
Irene May Rowsell was born at Beverley, Yorkshire on 12 September 1881, second of the seven children of Revd John Rowsell (4 January 1853-7 July 1910), assistant perpetual curate at Beverley Minster 1879-1882, and his wife Alice Lucy Greaves (1852-5 June 1931), youngest daughter of Revd Richard Wilson Greaves, who married Hôtel de Ville, Bruges on 2 July 1879. In 1882, shortly after Irene's birth, her father moved to take the position as rector of Beccles, Suffolk and in 1891, Irene was a 9-year-old, living at Ballygate Street, Beccles with her parents, 38-year-old John and 38-year-old Alice, and her six siblings, Alice Myra 10, also born at Beverley with Ruth Margaret 8, Monica Bishop 6, John Bishop 4, Herbert Greaves 3 and newly born Keith Alfred, all born at Beccles and they were still there in 1901. Her father died on 7 July 1910 when the family moved to 49 London Road, Beccles where, in 1911, Irene was a 29 year old painter artist, living with her widowed mother and sibling Keith Alfred 20, her younger brother Herbert was to be killed in action in the Great War in 1915. An artist in oil of still life and of flowers and a an exhibitor at the Ipswich Fine Art Club in 1900 and a member and exhibitor at the Norwich Art Circle 1902-1909 from Beccles, Suffolk and she exhibited some nine works. Irene married at St Pancras, London in 1916, Revd Alfred Thompson (13 July 1883-1954). In 1939 Irene was living at St Andrew's Vicarage, 571 Garratt Lane, Wandsworth, London with her husband Alfred, who was the local vicar. Irene May Thompson was of 89 Parkview Court, London SW.6, when she died at Fulham Hospital, Hammersmith, London on 30 September 1966, aged 85. A pastel portrait by Irene Rowsell is possibly a self-portrait or of a member of her family.
Works by This Artist
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PortraitPastel
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