Roland Vivian Pitchforth (1895-1982)
Southampton Water

Landscape and predominantly seascape painter in watercolour and, before 1945 oil. Born Wakefield, Yorkshire and studied at Wakefield School of art 1912-194, Leeds School of Art 1914-15 and 1919-20 his studies being interrupted by war service. He was then at Royal College of Art 1920-5 and also visited Paris. His first one man show was at the London Artists' association in 1928.  Official war artist 1940-5. Was elected RA in 1953. From 1945 he travelled extensively in Ceylon, Burma and South Africa. In 1948 he took up a teaching post at Chelsea polytechnic, Camberwell, St Martin's School of Art, Clapham and Royal College of Art also drawing on teaching skills at various times. Pitchforth's delicately washy watercolours became a feature of RA Summer Exhibitions after World War II. His work is in the Tate Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, in many provincial galleries and abroad. Lived in London.