Mud Pies – Rosie, William and Joseph Battye as children

Mud Pies – Rosie, William and Stephen Battye

When I first moved to Dewsbury, I painted several canvases from subjects from on Park Road. Here the children playing so happily will now be in their 40’s of course. Sadly I sold this at Holmfirth Art Fair, as the children’s father, the late Stephen Battye chose not to purchase it, as he had recently commissioned another portrait of his children. He did however, purchase another of my paintings at the time. I offered to buy it back many years ago, but the couple who then owned it refused to sell it, though it has subsequently been sold on at auction at much less than its original value, so if anyone knows who currently owns it , I would love to know! It encapsulates all the natural fun of simple child’s play as I watched them making their mud pies of the garden wall at the Gothic House, as it was then known!

Stolen Paintings – Elaine Ask

When I first moved to Dewsbury, the street opposite our house was a source of inspiration for many of my painting around 1989. One of my favourites was of a guest house with an amazing Victorian conservatory. Others were of houses on that street, some of which were purchased by the owners.

1989 oil painting by Elaine Ask.  House on Park Road, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
House on Park Road in Dewsbury, with Wonky Gateposts
Oil on Canvass by Elaine Ask 1989

My second husband had a fledgling printing business, which he worked hard to build up. He hung several of my paintings in his office to decorate the walls. Unfortunately the business failed and the bailiffs were sent in, and despite my paintings being nothing to do with the business assets, they were removed and sold so I never saw them again. One was of my older daughter in stripy leggings. I wonder who has it now…..?

A few years later my then husband and I split up. He only took with him 4 or 5 of my best framed paintings, which I did not begrudge him of course, but strangely enough , some time after that his home in the Barnsley area was burgled. The only things the thieves took were my paintings, one of which was that of the Victorian Conservatory at Ayton Guesthouse! If you have it, let me know, as I would love to have a photo of it at the very least…

Oil Painting Every-Day Life Scenes

In this oil painting by Elaine Ask, Saskia sits in an armchair, staring at the TV, though you don't see the TV.
“Saskia Aged 15”
Framed Oil on Canvass
1994

This is a homely domestic scene. The teenager has an almost vacant, look, as she sits watching TV, and certainly doesn’t appear to be that happy. You can’t see what she is thinking, as she is wrapped up in her own little world. Its evening time, and in the top left hand corner of the painting, adjacent to a small plant, the little lamp on top of the wooden desk casts reflected colours onto the desk itself and the wall to the right, on which a painting of a child playing the violin hangs. The armchair on which she sits has a yellow cellular blanket draped over it, while the second armchair next to her is adorned with colourful cushions. On the far left is a patterned carpet/rug.

So many colours and patterns, yet somehow they all hang together!

Greek villagers in Sarti, Halkidiki.  An oil painting by Elaine Ask 
oil on Canvass 1984
Greek Villagers Sorting Out Their Crop of Beans
Oil on Canvass 1984
610 x 457 mm

Another painting from life , created ten years earlier than the one shown above, depicts Greek villagers going about their business in the summer of 1984