Charles Knight

Charles Knight ROI VPRWS (1901–1990) was a British landscape painter and stained-glass artist best remembered for his luminous watercolor paintings of Sussex landscapes. Born on August 27, 1901, Knight entered Brighton College of Art soon after World War I, remaining there for four years under the influential guidance of teacher Louis Ginnett. He subsequently studied for two years at the Royal Academy Schools and learned etching at the Royal College of Art, receiving comprehensive training in both traditional and modern techniques. Knight's exceptional talent earned early recognition through the Turner Medal and Landseer Scholarship at the Royal Academy Schools. His prize composition, "Llangollen," was purchased for the Tate Gallery, a remarkable achievement for a young artist. During the mid-1920s, Knight discovered the work of John Sell Cotman, the Norwich School watercolorist, whose approach to landscape profoundly influenced Knight's development. This influence shaped his mature style, characterized by simplified forms, subtle color harmonies, and an emphasis on light and atmosphere rather than detailed naturalism. During World War II, Knight contributed to the important Pilgrim Trust Recording Britain project, completing 40 watercolors documenting the British landscape during wartime. In 1944, he received the extraordinary honor of being asked by Queen Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother) to give Princess Margaret lessons in watercolor painting. Knight taught at Brighton College of Art throughout his career, serving as vice-principal from 1959–67 and influencing generations of artists. His works entered permanent collections at the Victoria and Albert Museum, British Museum, Royal Watercolour Society, Towner Eastbourne, and the University of Brighton. Charles Knight died on May 15, 1990, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's finest 20th-century watercolorists.