Roy Kraty OBE Pines in Cumbria Near Tarn Hows

This is a fine oil on board by Roy Kraty OBE (1909-1002) who was self-taught and came to an artistic career after a lifetime of service in the RAF Intelligence service (which no doubt was why he was awarded the OBE in 1968). He moved to Warwickshire in the 1960s and started his artistic career, which took off in the 1970s. He moved to Yorkshire in the 1980s which provided him with new subjects. This piece is signed lower right and a note verso states that the subject is Pines in Cumbria near Tarn Hows, which is an area in the Lake District National Park. The painting is of unconventional composition, having the main tree right in the centre, but it works well, given the open vista to the left. I would estimate that this piece dates from the 1970s, by which time Kraty had moved north but also because the frame is very much of that period.