Kenneth Raymond Denton
R.S.M.A.   F.R.S.A.

(1932 - )

Kenneth Denton was born in Chatham, Kent on the 20 August 1932.  His mother was the daughter of a Master painter, whilst his father had a military background.  The family lived in nearby Rochester but during the Second World War, Kenneth was evacuated into the country.  During this period at school in Barham, Denton’s attraction to painting first began.

In 1944, Denton won a scholarship to Rochester School of Art (later the Medway College of Art) where he was educated in general painting and awarded the Fairbain Memorial Prize.  On leaving college he became apprenticed to a Master Painter and Gilder, and once again attended The Medway College of Art during his apprenticeship, gaining a First-Class Distinction in his studies.

During National Service in the British Army, Denton kept up his passion with the arts; completing a number of commissions and utilising his skills in such projects as the decoration of the Battalion Church.

On completion of his National Service in 1954, Kenneth Denton set up in business as a Decorative Artist.  During this period he also furthered his education in design, gaining Fellowship of the British Institute of Interior Designers, and The Chartered Society of Designers.  He did not neglect his true passion of oil painting, his work was to be seen in exhibitions frequently, including galleries in Bond Street, London.

In 1960, Denton’s expertise in the interior design and decorative arts, led to the first of several teaching posts, at Maidstone College of Art.  He was subsequently to teach at his old College as well as the Royal School of Military Engineering; eventually being appointed Examiner to the City and Guilds Institute of London.

During this busy period of his life, he started a family after marrying Margaret Nesbitt in 1956, and continued to paint in whatever spare time he had.  His brush work and technique developed and matured gaining him many commissions; encouraged by his success he turned professional in 1967.

Kenneth Denton’s work can best be described in his own words, “A traditional painter, with a modern technique”.  This is certainly true of his snow scenes, landscapes and scenes on the Medway.  He has a technique that shows influence from the impressionists, and his subtlety in the use of light exploits the same feelings as those of Constable.  Denton also admires “Traditional painters like Turner and Corot, and the more contemporary artists like Edward Seago” - and this is very apparent in his work.  Altogether, his work shows a dextrous use of brush, and a full use of light and colour.

Denton has had numerous one man exhibitions in the United Kingdom, Europe and America and his paintings have been purchased by Financial Institutions, International Corporations, Port Authorities, Statesmen and many private collectors.  Denton has other artistic interests and is particularly fond of Beethoven, Chopin, Schumann and Schubert.  He plays music in his studio to help him clear his mind of everyday worries and concentrate on his art.  He still plays the piano, but realised long ago that his true talent was painting.  His works have a timeless quality, despite the rapid changes in the countryside.  The one that Denton laments the most, is the demise of the elm tree, which he saw as an important element in the English landscape.

Kenneth Denton has been recognised with such accolades as membership of The Royal Society of Marine Artists as well as Fellowship of The Royal Society of Artists and is a Member of The International Society of Marine Painters.

He has been awarded many prizes including the Hunting Group Art Award in 1983, and his work can be found in a number of museums including The National Maritime Museum in Greenwich, London, Littlehampton Museum in Sussex, Laren Museum in Amsterdam and the National Maritime Museum in the Mystic Seaport, Connecticut, USA.

Exhibiting in over 30 one-man exhibitions throughout Europe and the United States, he was one of only two artists from Great Britain chosen to participate in the 300th anniversary celebrations of the world’s oldest yacht club - The Royal Netherlands Yacht Club.

He is listed in a number of well known publications such as Who’s Who In Art, Who’s Who In The Commonwealth, Men of Achievement, Distinguished People of Today, People Today, Directory of Sea Painters, 20th Century Marine Painting, 100 Years Of Traditional British Painting, British Painters Of the Coast and Sea and Dictionary of International Biography.  Many of Kenneth Denton’s works have been reproduced.