Drawing (1911) by Walter M. Keesey
Drawing (c. 1907-1922) by Walter M. Keesey
Drawing (1911) by Walter M. Keesey
Drawing (1912) by Walter M. Keesey
Drawing (1911) by Walter M. Keesey
Windmill, Thanet (1913) by Walter M. Keesey
Saint Etienne, Caen by Walter M. Keesey
Laon by Walter M. Keesey

Walter M. Keesey

Walter Monckton Keesey OBE (1887-1970) was an English architect, artist, and etcher whose career spanned over half a century. He won an exhibition to the Royal College of Art, attending from 1907 to 1911, and studied in Rome in 1911. His first professional position was as Art Master at the Architectural Association.

Biography

Keesey exhibited etchings, drawings, and watercolours at the Royal Academy for over 50 years (1912-1966), showing at least 23 works. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in 1924. His graphic skills extended to banknote design: he created the foliage device on the reverse of the Bank of England's Series A one-pound and ten-shilling notes, first issued in 1928.

Between 1913 and 1915, he produced illustrated sketchbooks of Cambridge, Harrow, and Canterbury for the publisher A. and C. Black. By 1928 he was appointed His Majesty's Inspector for Art at the Board of Education in Birmingham, a post he held until retiring in 1950, when he received the OBE for services to art.

He retired to Cheltenham in 1957, became President of the Cheltenham Group of Artists in 1961, and continued to paint watercolours until his death on 4 December 1970. His works are held by the Victoria and Albert Museum[2].

Timeline

  1. 1887Born Walter Monckton Keesey.
  2. 1907Won exhibition to the Royal College of Art.
  3. 1911Studied in Rome.
  4. 1912Exhibited at the Royal Academy.
  5. 1924Elected Associate of Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers.
  6. 1928Designed foliage for Bank of England notes.
  7. 1928Appointed Inspector for Art at the Board of Education.
  8. 1950Received OBE for services to art.
  9. 1957Retired to Cheltenham.
  10. 1961Became President of the Cheltenham Group of Artists.
  11. 1966Last exhibited at the Royal Academy.
  12. 1970Died on 4 December.

Notable Works

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is Walter M. Keesey known for?
    Walter M. Keesey is known for english etcher and artist who exhibited at the Royal Academy for over 50 years and designed the foliage for the Bank of England's one-pound note.

Sources

Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Walter M. Keesey.

  1. [1] museum Harvard Art Museums Used for: museum holdings.
  2. [2] museum Victoria and Albert Museum Used for: museum holdings.
  3. [3] book guggenheim-19artistsemergen00solo Used for: biography.
  4. [4] book guggenheim-carlandre00wald Used for: stylistic analysis.
  5. [5] book guggenheim-masterp00solo Used for: biography.
  6. [6] book guggenheim-onehundredpainti00thom Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  7. [7] book Nagel, Alexander, The controversy of Renaissance art Used for: biography.
  8. [8] book Wiles, Bertha Harris, 1896-, The fountains of Florentine sculptors and their followers from Donatello to Bernini Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
  9. [9] book Landauer, Susan, The not-so-still life : a century of California painting and sculpture Used for: biography.

Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-06-18. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.

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