Samuel John Lamorna Birch Paintings

Samuel John Lamorna Birch, known as 'Lamorna' Birch for his association with the Lamorna Valley in Cornwall, was a British artist noted for his landscape paintings. Born on June 7, 1869, in Egremont, Cheshire, England, Birch was largely self-taught, though he briefly studied at the Atelier Colarossi in Paris.

His early works were influenced by the Impressionist movement, and he was particularly known for his ability to capture light and atmosphere in his landscapes. Birch moved to Cornwall in 1892, where he became a central figure in the Newlyn School, a colony of artists known for their realist works depicting local scenes. The name 'Lamorna' was adopted to avoid confusion with another artist named Birch who was already established in the area.

Throughout his career, Birch exhibited widely, including at the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon, where he received an honorable mention in 1907. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy in 1926 and became a full Royal Academician in 1934. Birch was also a member of the Royal Society of British Artists and the Royal Institute of Oil Painters.

Birch's work is characterized by a vigorous painting technique and a strong sense of place, often focusing on the Cornish landscape with its rugged coastlines and moorlands. He painted en plein air, working directly in the landscape to capture the transient effects of light and weather on the scenery.

During his lifetime, Samuel John Lamorna Birch was highly respected and successful. His paintings are now held in many public collections, including the Tate Gallery and the Royal Cornwall Museum. He continued to paint into his old age, maintaining his passion for the Cornish landscape that had inspired much of his work. Birch passed away on January 7, 1955, in Penzance, Cornwall, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's foremost landscape painters of the early 20th century.