Still Life with a Brown Jug

Percy Frederick Horton was born in Brighton and educated at Brighton Municipal Secondary School before attending Brighton School of Art between 1912-1916. An ardent socialist, he was a member of the No-Conscription Fellowship so when he was called up in 1916 he requested exemption as a conscientious objector. His request was objected and upon his failure to report for duty he was sentenced to two years imprisonment with hard labour. After the war he studied in London at the Central School of Arts & Crafts (1919-20) and for a short time took up a position as art teacher at Rugby School. In 1922 he returned to his studies, attending the Royal College of Art under William Rothenstein who later asked him to join the College staff. At the same time he was also teaching part time at the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art in Oxford. In 1949 he was appointed the Master of Drawing at Ruskin where he remained until 1964 before retiring to Sussex. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, New English Art Club and Artists’ International Association. Works by him are in the collections of the National Portrait Gallery, Tate, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and the Arts Council.