Until very recently if anyone had said to me they had an illustrated book on the Lake District published by A & C Black of London with the title “The English Lakes” I should have assumed that they meant the one published in 1905 as a member of their “Artist’s Sketch Book” series edited by Martin Hardie. That volume of almost two hundred pages is described on the front board as “Painted by A. Heaton Cooper; Described by W. T. Palmer.” My copy is inscribed by my late mother with her own name, and dated 2nd October 1928, seemingly a 21st birthday gift to herself.
A few weeks ago, however, I came across a slimmer volume (just 64 pages) from the same publisher in 1911. In this one the artist, twelve of whose paintings are included, is not given credit either on the cover or even in the list of illustrations. However, when we read up to page 9 of the text we find the name, “Mr. Heaton Cooper”. The writing is by Gordon Home and still today provides an enjoyable tour around our beautiful Lake District.
Incidentally, in 1919 A & C Black produced an even slimmer book, but this time the artist got all the credit. With no text in support it is simply a set of sixteen “English Lakes Water Colours” by A. Heaton Cooper.
The artist, whose descendents still run the Heaton Cooper Studio in Grasmere, is one to whom I’m sure we will return later. He is my favourite Lake District artist. Quite apart from the collection of books, prints of his work and that of his son William hang on our walls at home. In fact one is almost within reach by the side of my desk as I type this. Here now is one of the beautiful paintings reproduced in Home’s “English Lakes”: Grasmere Church and the River Rothay.
These books are, of course, long out of print but well-preserved copies can be found on the used book market. Look on Amazon using the search box below.
