THIS beautiful artwork is A Worcestershire Lane Scene by artist David Bates (1840-1921). Completed in 1904, the latest among several example of the artist’s work in the Worcester City collection. 

Bates was born in Cambridgeshire but spent most of his early life in Worcestershire before becoming an apprentice at the Royal Worcester Porcelain Works.

He specialised in painting flowers at the factory until he left his employment there in 1880 to become a full-time professional painter. Bates was an open-air artist best known for his serene rural landscapes. He predominantly painted around the Midlands, Wales and Scotland, but also travelled to Africa and Switzerland.

His work shows the influence of his contemporary Benjamin Williams Leader (1831-1923), another of the most significant artists in the Worcester City collection. Bates enjoyed success in his lifetime, exhibiting at The Royal Academy between 1863 and 1893, Royal Society of British Artists, Grafton Gallery and the New Watercolour Society.

All aspects of his work display his love of working in the open-air, immersed in the landscapes which inspired him.

Worcester City Art Gallery & Museum launches a new series of popular Bite Size Talks in February, this year hosted online for the first time.

In the first talk of the year, curatorial and exhibitions assistant Kate Banner will be discussing the significance of landscape during 2020 and beyond. She will also share details of the Landscape in Lockdown project which the Art Gallery & Museum has been involved with, run by the Landscape Research Group (part of the British Art Network led by Tate and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art).