Thomas Kennedy artwork on the North Chingford Arts Trail

Thomas Kennedy was born on September 4,1900 in Leyton, East London into a large and successful artistic family. His brother was the flower painter Cecil Kennedy, their father the artist Robert Thomas Kennedy, and their grandfather Thomas Kennedy of Edinburgh.

Thomas Kennedy was a professional landscape painter his entire working life. As well as studying art in London, for many years he worked in the British Museum where he derived considerable influence and inspiration from the works of the great old masters such as Constable and Turner, together with the venerable painters of the Italian and Dutch schools.

He sold his first painting in 1916 aged just 16, to a Bond Street dealer and described the elation he felt walking back down that famous street with 35 gold guineas in his pocket.

He is recorded as having lived and painted around Leyton in Essex well into the 1930s until his marriage to Dorian in 1938. Thomas and Dorian lived out the artistically challenging World War Two at the 18th century Woolley Hall at Littlewick Green in Berkshire.

Thomas Kennedy lived at Cardis Cottage on the Green in Chingford after World War Two Returning to the fringes of Epping Forest after the War he lived at Carbis Cottage on the Green in Chingford.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother was an admirer of his work, acquiring a number of his paintings, and his work also graced many private art collections worldwide.

Thomas Kennedy died at Leytonstone in Essex in 1982.

His work goes on display as part of the North Chingford Arts Trail on September 28 to October 6, 2024.

The trail also includes the work of over 30 local artists who submitted over 100 artworks that will be displayed at 10 venues along and around Station Road E4, as well as watercolour, photography, floristry and stained glass workshops.

• n Visit: lovenorthchingford.co.uk/arts-culture-trail/ for more details and times.