London Scottie Club is always on the lookout for the rare, unknown and forgotten in this section of our website. And we were alerted to the works of Cecil Charles Windsor Aldin, an illustrator and artist who worked on adverts for brands like Bovril, Colman’s Mustard and Cadbury. Royal Doulton used many Aldin drawings on the ceramics until 1939.
Aldin is perhaps best known for his dog subjects, including numerous Scotties.
He was born in Slough, Berkshire, the son of a successful builder. His skills for portraying animals and rural life developed at an early age. Throughout his life he was rarely seen without his sketch book and hunting was never far from his thoughts. His real ambition was achieved when he became Master of the South Berks Foxhounds.
He studied at the Albert Moore in Kensington, London (1885), the National Art Training School and under Frank Calderon.
He worked mainly in pastel or watercolour and produced a number of fine etchings in limited editions.
He was a keen sportsman and he hunted with the West Surrey Staghounds in the early 1890s, keeping his horse in a shed in Chiswick, west London..
His obituary in The Times newspaper described him as one of the leading spirits in the renaissance of British sporting art.
Today his work can be seen in the collection of the British Sporting Art Trust, National Sporting Library, Virginia, and the Towneley Hall Collection – Gallery. You can also search “Aldin” on this website to view his works, many of which are available for sale.
