Cecil Aldin

1870 - 1935

Born in Slough, Aldin's father was a builder and amateur artist. Cecil began drawing at a very young age and studied at the studio of Albert Moore in Kensington, followed by the South Kensington Schools. As a master of foxhounds, he became a supplier of horses to the British Army in WW1 through a series of Remount Depots he set up, one of them staffed entirely by women. His paintings of Women's Land Army subjects became very well-known. Aldin lost his son, Dudley, in tyhe battle at Vimy Ridge in 1917, which affected him deeply for many years and had a profound effect on his style of work After the War, Aldin spent much of his time organising pony and dog shows, and painting equestrian and animal subjects, as well as carrying out many commissions for book and magazine illustrations. He published a short series of fully illustrated books in 1923, Old Manor Houses and Old Inns, and also a series of prints depicting Old Inns, Old Manor Houses and Cathedrals.