Sole Bay Group

The Group was founded by Walter Francis Crittall grandson of the founder of the eponymous Crittall windows sometime either during the late 1920's or early 1930's. Known as Mr Pink, Crittall lived at Great Easton a small hamlet in Essex and also had a second home on the coast at Southwold a favourite haunt of early and mid-20th-century artists. A competent artist having trained at St. John's Wood School of Art, Walter Crittall befriended George Clausen during the late 1920's and Clausen painted his friend's portrait which he exhibited in the 1936 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. Attracted by the philanthropy of Crittall and the fame of Clausen, many artists gathered around the two 'founders' in an informal painting group. Regular member and exhibitors included Arnesby Brown, Hilda and Richard Carline, T. C. Dugdale, Russell Flint, George Mostyn and Gilbert Spencer. The Group's summertime exhibitions were held at the Stella Peskett Memorial Hall, Southwold and at the Jubilee Hall, Aldeburgh and 'Guest artists' were invited to exhibit. The 1933 show included, as well as 'regular' members, Bertram Priestman, Clifford Webb, Algernon Talmage, and Leonard Squirrell. The Group appears to have disbanded around the time of World War II.

There was another Sole Bay Artists Group which held an exhibition at The Gallery, Buckenham House, High Street, Southwold from 19 May until 16 June 1989 and a second from 14 July until 4 August. These two groups are to my knowledge unconnected with the original Group.