Moira_Forsyth

Moira Forsyth

Moira Forsyth

English stained-glass artist

Moira Forsyth (1905 – April 1991) was an English stained-glass artist. Her father was Gordon Forsyth a Scottish ceramics designer, stained-glass artist, and teacher. They both made works for the St. Joseph's Church in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire. She made her name for her stained-glass works, such as those found at Guildford Cathedral, Norwich Cathedral and Eton College Chapel.[1][2]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Most of her work life centred on The Glass House studio in Fulham in Greater London with other artists, such as Wilhelmina Geddes, Mary Lowndes, and Alfred J. Drury. She also made and exhibited ceramics and created a large ceiling mural for the St Joseph's Catholic Church in Burslem, Staffordshire.

Personal life

Moira Forsyth was born in 1905 in Stafford, Staffordshire, to Gordon Forsyth. Her father's career took the family to the Manchester area by 1911,[2][3] although they returned to Staffordshire after the First World War.

After training and her professional career in Stoke-on-Trent and London, Forsyth moved to Farnham, Surrey. She was initially trained in pottery and taught it, as well as making murals, but she was primarily known for her stained-glass designs and work. She worked in the Ministry of Town and Country Planning during the years of World War II. She died in April 1991. Her requiem was held at Farnham's St Joan of Arc Church where Forsyth was a member.[2][3][4]

TO write that no-one ever found an unkind word to say about the Catholic artist Moira Forsyth, who died recently, might suggest a rather bland and insipid personality, writes Winefride Pruden. Nothing would be farther from the truth: she could be trenchant in her opinions and judgements, and her wit was not without a touch of astringency.

— Catholic Herald obituary, 26 April 1991

Education and career

At Stoke-on-Trent, Forsyth studied ceramics in 1921 at the Burslem School of Art, where her father was principal. While there, she also created and exhibited her works, including an exhibition in 1925 at White City Fair, "to worldwide acclaim".[1][2][5][6] Orders began coming in from around the world.[3][6] The following year she opened up her own studio for ceramics design, but due to the 1926 general strike when the kilns were not operating, she needed to close down her work place.[5][7]

She then attended the Royal College of Art, after having received a scholarship in a national contest.[6][7] One of her instructors was Martin Travers.[nb 1] Taking up an interest in stained glass while there, glasswork became her professional aspiration.[1][2] Forsyth then moved to the Greater London area where she first worked at St Oswald Studios and then at The Glass House studio where she worked with Wilhelmina Geddes and the studio owners Mary Lowndes and Alfred J. Drury.[2]

During her career she was a member of the International Society of Christian Artists and Society of Catholic Artists member and president.[7]

There are more than 1,000 historical files about Moira Forsyth, dating from 1877 through 1989, at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These include family certificates of birth and death (1877 to 1976) and papers directly related to her, including business and family correspondence, applications for commissions or memberships, drawings and sketches, project files, photographs and more.[7]

Works

Forsyth received prestigious commissions for cathedrals as well as for schools and parish churches. She has been described as "one of England's most notable stained glass artists".[9] Her work reflected use of slab glass, cross-hatching and colours of the Arts and Crafts movement.[6]

The Children's Corner (or Chapel) The emphasis is very much on 'creation and the incarnation'. The stained glass by Moira Forsyth, demonstrates the happiness of brought by the birth of Christ who is destined to re-establish the Garden of Eden. The illustrations are very much of the 1930s and show children white children with blond hair and shorts playing in the forests with the angels. The glass was exhibited in the Royal Academy before being put in place in St Thomas.

— Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell summary of their artwork[10]

This is a list of some of her more important works.

More information Work or place, Location ...

Exhibitions

Forsyth frequently exhibited at art galleries and the Royal Academy.[3]

Awards

Forsyth received the Queen's award for lifelong services to the arts.[1]

Notes

  1. [N 1]
    Mr. Travers was commonly known as Martin Travers, but his birth name was Howard Martin Otho Travers.[8]

References

  1. [1]
    Hughes, Fred. (20 December 2008). "Father and daughter left legacy to Mother Town." The Sentinel. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  2. [2]
    Architects and Artists F-G: Moira Forsyth. Archived 9 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches – Architects and Artists. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  3. [3]
    Moira Forsyth: designer of Emanuel School chapel windows.[permanent dead link] Emanuel Alumni. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  4. [4]
    "Moira Forsyth", Catholic Herald. 26 April 1991. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  5. [5]
    FORSYTH Moire 1905-1991. Archived 24 December 2012 at archive.today Stoke Museums. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  6. [6]
    Untitled stained glass window panel. The Stained Glass Museum. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  7. [7]
    E. Lomas (1 January 2001). Guide to the Archive of Art and Design: Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Taylor & Francis, pp. 96–97. ISBN 978-1-57958-315-6. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  8. [8]
    Architects and Artists T-U-V: M Travers. Archived 24 April 2013 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches – Architects and Artists. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  9. [9]
    History of the Church of the Holy Family. Archived 19 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine Holy Angels Church, Ash. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  10. [10]
    Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell, describing Moira Forsyth's artwork. St. Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  11. [11]
    Harries, John. (4 March 2008). Discovering Stained Glass. Osprey Publishing, pp. 4, 17. ISBN 978-0-7478-0205-1. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  12. [12]
    Moira Forsyth's Artwork for St. Joseph's Church, Burslem. Archived 14 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine St. Joseph's Church, Burslem. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  13. [13]
    St Mary Church, Friston. Sussex Parish Churches. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
  14. [14]
    Allen, John. (21 February 2011). Eastbourne – St Mary, Hampden Park. Archived 5 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine Sussex Parish Churches. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
  15. [15]
    Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner (11 March 1991). London 3: North West. Yale University Press, p. 184. ISBN 978-0-300-09652-1. Retrieved 12 September 2012.
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