​Northern artist Ron Thornton was so inspired by the East Yorkshire coastline that it features strongly in his latest book of watercolour paintings. Heather Dixon spoke to him about his passion for the sea . . .

One of Ron's paintings

There is only a brief moment in time before the seascape that captures Ron Thornton’s imagination changes beyond all recognition. A brilliant shaft of light quickly fades, a darkening cloud passes, the broiling waves subside . . .

Faster than a brush-stroke the moment is gone and Ron has to rely on his memory and a clutch of hastily-snapped photographs to bring it back to life.

Yet those brief vignettes form the basis of a remarkable collection of more than 50 stunning paintings which have been brought together in a book called A Coastal Voyage In Watercolour (The Borders To The Humber).

The paintings, which include scenes of the Yorkshire coastline stretching from Staithes to Withernsea, represent just a fraction of Ron’s work – and a fitting tribute to the Northumbria-based artist as he bows out of the commercial sector at the age of 74.

Not that Ron is planning to retire exactly. He has already enjoyed two successful careers – as a teacher and then an artist – and he plans to continue to paint for pleasure while developing his writing skills.

“Each picture in the book is accompanied by historical tales, personal anecdotes and often wry observations on the towns,” said Ron. “I’ve really enjoyed finding out things that the general public aren’t likely to know about these places, so it’s something I’d like to develop more.”

Ron’s decision to turn down commissions will be disappointing to those who admire and collect his work. Known simply as R.W. Thornton, Ron’s intricate watercolours have sold around the world and been exhibited throughout the UK.

But he won’t retire quietly.

His mischievous sense of fun and innate sense of curiosity will keep him socialising with fellow painters at his local art group, while the prized originals and limited-edition prints that represent 25 years’ work continue to earn him a pension.

Those same characteristics also helped to take him from a background in which art was dismissed as frivolous, into a long and distinguished teaching career.

“I was painting and drawing from a very early age,” says Ron. “I remember painting a huge 7ft by 10ft country scene on the kitchen/dining room wall when I was only about 10 years old. It stayed there for three or four years before it was finally painted over. It was a compulsion to paint.”

But Ron’s talents went largely unnoticed until he left school and did National Service with the RAF in Kent. Without transport to get home to South Shields, or a television to pass the time away, he turned to the one thing he knew best.

Ron's painting of Withernsea

“It was my way of relaxing,” he said. “I never really considered it as a career. I took sciences at school and later taught the unusual combination of science and English.

“I wasn’t a natural teacher by any means, but I was a great torment! I could integrate with the children and I absolutely loved it. I had a good life.”

His career took him to secondary and middle schools throughout South Tyneside as he rose to headships, still finding time to paint and sell his work at craft fairs and exhibitions.

“When I reached my mid-fifties my wife, Ann, and I took financial advice to see if I could earn a living from painting,” said Ron. “I could, so I did.”

Although Ron loved painting, he soon realised there were two major drawbacks to his new-found carreer. “I wasn’t particularly confident that my work would sell, so I painted to commission. This meant I was always working to deadlines. The second thing I learnt was that it can be a very lonely business.

“I am a people person and I had spent all my working life in the middle of busy, buzzing schools. Suddenly I was in a studio and on my own from 8am to 6pm with just Classic FM for company.

“The loneliness was dreadful.”

To get round the problem, Ron combined his passion for art and teaching by becoming involved with painting classes and clubs. This, in turn, led to the production of a video, now updated to DVD, and teaching packs on “Learning To Paint In Watercolour – A Foundation Course For Beginners” and  “Painting Trees”.

He describes the technique as being one of “practice, perseverance and patience”. “Thinking ahead is the most important rule,” he says. “Watercolour does not wait and, unlike oil or pastels, cannot be re-worked.”

Ron Thornton

Ron’s constant inspiration is water and an exhibition at the Biscuit Factory art gallery in Newcastle, featuring his images of the Tall Ships visit to the city, was a sell-out.

Many of his original works, which sold for hundreds of pounds each, have become collectors’ pieces and his limited-edition prints sell all over the world.

It was only a matter of time before he started to look for inspiration further afield and his latest body of work, featuring 52 coastal towns from The Borders to the Humber, is the voluminous result.

He spent two years touring the northern coastline with Ann, capturing on camera the character and detail of each location, then working quickly with his chosen medium in his south-facing studio.

The paintings were completed at the beginning of 2009 and have been produced as a full colour hardback by Hexhamshire-based Wagtail Press.

“The Yorkshire coastline is fascinating,” he said. “It’s very diverse for a start. There is everything from the Victorian seaside town of Scarborough and the smuggling village of Staithes, to the spectacular cliffs at Flamborough and beautiful resort of Filey where the trees almost meet the water’s edge.

“I love the fact that no two views are the same, and each view changes within seconds. Usually it’s impossible to capture one particular moment without taking photographs. The sea and sky alters from minute to minute, in their tones and shapes and moods. You have to try to capture the essence of a place as well as one particular moment.”

He has also been enchanted by the history and stories behind the places he’s painted.

“It’s not until you really start to explore these coastal towns and villages that you unearth the really interesting facts,” he said.

But when Ron and Ann head to the Yorkshire coast in 2010 it will be for pleasure rather than work. “I am 74 now and I’ve decided to stop painting to sell,” he says. “I shall do it for the enjoyment. Painting is the third most popular pastime in the country, after fishing and golf, so there are plenty of people out there painting for themselves. I’m looking forward to being one of them.”

A Coastal Voyage In Watercolour (The Borders To The Humber), by Ron Thornton, Wagtail Press is priced £19.50 from all good book stores, including E. Garland & Son, Bridlington, or direct from publisher www.wagtailpress.co.uk