BJ Ottewell (1847-1937): Watercolour of River Landscape with Sheep

Benjamin John Ottewell seems to have been quite a character! He is said to have been a lazy student and was sent away to a grammar school where he was boxed on the ears for some mistake and punched the teacher in the face! He then ran away and went home, never to resume his education. However, he became a self taught artist in his thirties. He is well known for having met Queen Victoria in a chance encounter in Scotland and she ended up buying 130 of his paintings over the years, which are still in the present Queen's collection. . This example of his work is dated 1897 when he was well into his painting career, and is very accomplished, having a lovely light and soft focus to it. The location is not identified, as in many of his works, but could well be Scotland which was a favoured location. The compostion is beautifully balanced and pleasing.