Hughes, Eleanor

Eleanor Waymouth was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, although her parents were originally from the West Country.

Biography

Eleanor Hughes née Waymouth RI – 1882 – 1959

In 1907 she came to London, accompanied by her sister, to study at Frank Spenlove’s ‘Yellow Door’ Studio. Soon afterwards, she travelled on to Newlyn to study painting under Elizabeth and Stanhope Forbes. In Newlyn she met the artist Robert Morson Hughes, who she married in 1910.

After spending some time travelling in Italy, the couple settled in west Cornwall, building their house ‘Chyangweal’, near St. Buryan, where they both lived for the rest of their lives.

Based in a studio in the Lamorna Valley, Eleanor Hughes specialised in painting the surrounding landscape, and particularly trees. She and her husband also travelled regularly to France and the Pyrenees.

She exhibited work at the Royal Academy in 1911 and later at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours; she also exhibited at the New English Art Club, the Glasgow Institute, the Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool) and in Newlyn and St. Ives. In 1933 she was elected a full member of the Royal Institute of Painters.