Devonshire artist Jerry shares his artworks, commercial commissions and his journey into signwriting and illustrative arts
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Issue: 1 Dated: 29th September 2023
Jerry Pitcher at work in his Sidmouth studio (January 2014)
"Having left Grammar school in Ramsgate with a somewhat inauspicious clutch of GCE O Levels my career choices were somewhat limited, to my dismay Ordnance Survey in the Army was suggested!"
"Purely by chance I found a Margate Sign Writer was looking to take on an apprentice. During my five years with him I found I’d developed a natural aptitude for art and actually became quite proficient working on signs with a pictorial element"
Photographs of Inn Signs
"Completing
the apprenticeship and gaining my indentures, like all good apprentices I
left the firm deciding to strike out on my own"
"My family moved to Whitstable and me with them where I soon discovered that
finding enough sign writing work to make a living wasn’t going to be
easy. Producing a few sketches in and around Whitstable Harbour, I was noticed
and more especially my work was seen. In a relatively short time several local
hostelries were exhibiting my work, giving me confidence to take on commissions
which came my way with a fairly even split between artwork and sign
writing"
"Setting
up shop in the basement of the Record Centre at 20a Oxford Street, Whitstable
I became embroiled in the day to day operation of Radio City and found myself
sweet talked into guarding
the Knock John Naval Fort with Cliff Cuttelle by Station Manager Eric
K Martin"
"A return to my ancestral roots in Devon came about after marriage and starting
a family. Settling in Sidmouth I found myself in demand by the licenced trade
designing, drawing, painting all manner of Inn signs throughout the West Country"
"I took on illustrating menus, promotional literature, press advertising,
village and country scenes and Inn signs. This progressed to pictures of Churches,
the Countries Great Cathedrals and Abbeys"
"My mother reminded me that as a child I was always flat on the floor drawing
something or other, so I have to conclude the ability was always a part of
me"
"Call it fate had the good fortune of a Sign Writers Apprenticeship not come
along, I might now have been a retired Army Ordnance Man with a very acceptable
pension!"
The Old Masons Arms, Branscombe, Devon 1900 (1977)
Saint Winifred's Church, Branscombe, Devon in 1900 original (1977)
Saint Winifred's Church, Branscombe, Devon in 1900 refined (1977)
The Old Masons Arms, Branscombe, Devon 1900 original (1977)
The Old Masons Arms, Branscombe, Devon 1900 colour (1977)
Saint Winifred's Church, Branscombe, Devon in 1900 (1977)
Rochester Cathedral, Kent from the Castle (1977)
The Masons Arms, Branscombe, Devon (1979)
St Winifreds Church, Branscombe, Devon (1979)
Chapel Row, Branscombe, Devon in 1930 (1980)
Ottery Saint Marys Parish Church, Devon (1980)
The lookout, Branscombe, Devon (1980)
Branscombe, Devon in 1920 (1981)
York Minster from the City Walls York, Yorkshire (1982)
Chester Cathedral, Cheshire from the South East (1982)
Exeter Cathedral, West Front (1982)
Pub Menu (undated)
Chichester Cathedral, West Sussex North East aspect from the Market Cross (1982)
The Fountain Head in the 1950's Branscombe, Devon (1982)
Canterbury Cathedral, Kent from Christchurch Gate (1982)
Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucestershire viewed from the North West (1983)
The Old Inn, Hawkchurch, Axminster, Devon (1983)
Wells Cathedral, Somerset from the Market Place (1983)
Tyne Class RNLI drawn for the Victoria Inn, Salcombe, Devon (1984)
Selsey Bill in 1982 vessel was put on Relief Fleet 1984-93, moved from to Walton and Frinton 1993-96, back to Relief Fleet 1996-2006 before sold to China as Huaying 389, from 2007 based in Ningbo, China
New designs for the Devenish Brewery:
Red Lion Hotel, Weymouth, Dorset & the Kings Arms, Dorchester, Dorset (1987)
Church House, Sidmouth, Devon (undated)
Photograph of Menu Design for the Cornish Brewery Company:
Longview Cottage, Branscombe, DevonLongview Cottage, Branscombe, Devonromoting 'Steam Beers' above for the Valiant Soldier Exeter (1987)
The Esplanade, now the Hook & Parrot, Seaton, Devon (1989)
Artwork for the George Inn, Seaton, Devon (undated)
Dirty Duck (1990) | Black Swan (1990) |
Commissioned by the Brewery for the Pubs often known affectionately as the Mucky Ducks
John While's Butchers, Seaton, Devon press advertising artwork (1995)
Durham Cathedral, County Durham seen from the South West (2001)
Wyke Smugglers Menu original (undated)
Wyke Smugglers Menu colour (undated)
Shave Cross Inn, Marshwood Vale, Bridport, Dorset (2003)
Shave Cross Inn Sign, Marshgwood Vale, Bridport, Dorset (undated)
Blue Ball at Sidford, Devon in 1900, Christmas card artwork (2004)
Blue Ball at Sidford, Devon Inn Sign (undated)
Saint Giles Church, Sidbury, Sidmouth, Devon (2005)
Sidbury Village, Devon (2005)
Anchor Inn, Sidmouth, Devon (2005)
Sidmouth, Devon (2005)
St Peters Church, Sidford, Devon (2007)
Fountain Head, Branscombe, Devon in 1970 (2008)
Pub Menu (undated)
Beer Village, Devon (2008)