WENT, Douglas

1887 - 1970

Douglas Norman Went was born at Myrtle Lodge, Plough Lane, Great Bentley, Essex on 23 March 1887, second son of Arthur Solomon Went (1856-6 September 1939), brick manufacturer, and his wife Alice Ruth née Hammond (1866-27 April 1957), who married at St John the Evangelist, Stoke-next-Guildford, Surrey on 2 September 1884. In 1891 they were still living at Myrtle Lodge, but by 1901, Douglas was a 14-year-old, living at River Side, Great Bentley, Tendring, Essex with his parents, 44-year-old Arthur and 34-year-old Alice, with siblings Arthur Solomon 15 and Alice Dorothy 10, and they were still there in 1911 when Douglas was a 24-year-old 'artist'. Douglas exhibited at the London Salon in 1913 from 'Riverside', St Osyth, Colchester, Essex and in 1921 the family were living at Thorrington, Essex. Douglas married at All Saints' Church, Brightlingsea, Essex on 15 September 1937, Barbara Adelaide Rand (15 April 1914-2001), second daughter of Edwin Rand of East Moseley. In 1939, when he gave his birth date as 23 November 1892, Douglas originally had hopes of being an artist but with his wife Barbara, opened a business as a photographer with his studio at 35 Tower Street, Brightlingsea, Essex. An associate member of the Ipswich Art Club 1952-1954 and exhibited from 33 Tower Street, Brightlingsea in 1953, two oils 'When Mist Drifts in from the Sea' and 'Low Tide Evening' and a further three pictures the following year. He was a professional photographer, and his photographs are used in 'The Sailor's Coast' by John Leather and were used in Sir Alfred Munning's biography, James Wentworth Day's adventure books and in Hervey Benham's sailing books, his own book 'Sailing', an illustrated yachting book, was produced in 1951. Douglas Norman Went died at his home at 35 Tower Street, Brightlingsea on 24 May 1970 leaving a widow, two sons and a daughter.

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Works by This Artist