William Edward Ware (English, 1915 - 1997)

Exhibited: RA NEAC RP RWA

William Ware is a notable modern British artist who began painting at the age of nine as a means of self-expression, having broken his back in childhood - which led to almost continuous hospitalisation until the age of sixteen. During the Second World War he painted and sketched the Blitz, depicting bombing raids, and rescue and salvage crews at work. A number of these atmospheric, impressionistic, but sombre paintings were later purchased by the Imperial War Museum to form part of its permanent collection.

He opened his own gallery and studio after World War 2, and exhibited widely at venues such as the Royal Academy, Royal Portrait Society, New English Art Club, Barbican Art Gallery, Royal West of England Academy, and at many private galleries. In 1974 he was commissioned to paint Dr Donald Coggan’s enthronement as Archbishop of Canterbury.

Landscape painter and restorer, born in London. After falling from a ladder aged three when he broke his back, William was confined to various hospitals age 16, when he was cured, but at the age of nine he decided to become a painter. He studied at Putney School of Art, gaining a scholarship that took him to Richmond Art School, 1932-37, under Patrick Millard and Albert Houthuesen.

He was married in 1939 to the artist Eileen Aldridge, and their son was the painter Martin Ware.

In 1940 his first war painting of the London Blitz was purchased by the Imperial War Museum, and a number of others are held in their permanent collection. His first London gallery exhibition was in 1940 at J. Leger & Son, exhibiting alongside Augustus John, Sickert, Modigliani, John Piper, Duncan Grant and many others who are now more well-known than he.

He set up his own studio and gallery in London at 226, Fulham Road, & gained a reputation as a restorer, doing work for national galleries and museums.

In 1955, he was appointed Art Advisor to The Greek Shipping Line and held a solo exhibition on the maiden voyage of T.S.S.Olympia. He completed murals on their ships “Olympia” and “Arcadia”.

In 1965, he opened the William Ware Gallery at 160 Fulham Road, replacing it with one at 25 Sloane Street, 1970-75. In 1978 he moved to Burwash, East Sussex, and had a solo exhibition at the Towner Art Gallery, Eastbourne, which included his commissioned painting “The Enthronement of the Archbishop of Canterbury” (Dr Donald Coggan), now at King’s School.

Between 1942 and 1983 William exhibited widely, though less frequently in the latter years. Venues included The New English Art Club, Royal Academy, Royal Portrait Society, Royal West of England Academy, Haworth Gallery in Accrington, Ogle Gallery in Cheltenham, and the Upper Grosvenor Galleries and Christopher Hull Galleries in London.