Victor Noble Rainbird

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Victor Noble Rainbird. Born on the 12th December 1887 in North Shields. Rainbird was a painter, stained glass artist and illustrator. He attended King's College (now Newcastle University), Newcastle upon Tyne, where he distinguished himself and won several prizes. His pictures were included in a government exhibition which toured Australia, New Zealand and Canada. He later attended the Royal Academy Schools where he twice won Silver Medals as well as the Landseer Scholarship.

After the First World War he practised as a professional artist in North Shields and exhibited works at the "Artists of the Northern Counties" exhibitions at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle upon Tyne, at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and also at the Royal Academy. He made several trips to France, Belgium and Holland and a large proportion of his work is of continental subjects. Common works, which Victor has executed many times are of Dutch Fisherfolk, the sea and seafront at and around North Shields and impressions of Rouen and Amiens. Rarer subjects include stained glass window images, portraits and still life (flowers).

It seems that Victor used his paintings to pay his way through life and often seemed to have done paintings to 'pay for his supper'. His work often comes up at the Newcastle upon Tyne auction house Anderson and Garland, where an average watercolour work (2006) of 10 x 14 inches may make around GBP 200.

Between 1917 and 1933, Victor Noble Rainbird lived at 71 West Percy Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear. The house still has a blue commemorative plaque showing his residence.

Victor Noble Rainbird's pictures come up all over the world at auctions. Most commonly, Anderson and Garland (Auctioneers) at Newcastle have pictures in their quarterly auctions of Fine Arts.

(Bob Meadows / Mette Henriksen)