About
Biography
Henry Harding Bingley (1887–1972) was a prolific British artist who gained recognition for his delicate watercolours. He lived for some time in Cornwall, particularly in the Perranporth area. The earliest dated painting discovered so far dates from 1912, and his final known work, Autumn: A Woodland Stream on the Avon, Hampshire, appeared in 1971.
Collectors celebrate Bingley’s views of the Cornish coast, though he also painted landscapes in Devon, Wales, Scotland, Cumbria, Yorkshire, the Channel Islands, Dorset and London. While he occasionally used oils, these works are much rarer. The quality of his paintings varied — some pieces were quickly created as “pot boilers” for tourists, while others display exceptional detail and skill.
Personal Life and Character
Henry was born in London in 1887 to Charles Sevestre Bingley and Sally Harding. He had five siblings: May Amelia, Charles Jennens, Dora, Thomas Sevestre and Freda. He never married and had no children.
Around 1939, Bingley moved to Perranporth and soon became a familiar figure in the local community. Passionate about cricket, he served for many years as resident umpire for Perranporth Cricket Club. In one memorable incident, a ball came down vertically and struck him on the head, knocking him out and forcing the match to stop — a story locals still fondly recall.
Bingley, known for his gentle and eccentric character, drove an Austin A30 (very slowly), walked with a stoop and often wore threadbare clothes and a bow tie. Despite his modest appearance, many saw him as the perfect English gentleman. Some believe he may have had early connections to the Newlyn School, as certain paintings show fishing boats at Newlyn.
Studios and Teaching
Bingley set up his first studio in Perranporth by the boating lake at 11 Boscowan Road. His second studio, at 12 St Pirans Road (now a funeral director’s premises), stood opposite Sully’s Hotel. Both studios measured about twelve feet square and featured a large picture window to display his work. Notably, he made all his own frames.
While he did not formally teach widely, he taught at least one young student, J Cole.
Correcting the record
In Hidden Talents: A Dictionary of Neglected Artists working 1880–1950 (Jeremy Wood Fine Art, 1997), Jeremy Wood lists Herbert Harding Bingley A.B.W.S. (active 1927–1933) as a painter of marine views, coastal scenes and, particularly, West Country landscapes. Some works bear inscriptions and dates that confirm his activity during this period.
However, this publication includes an error: “Herbert” Harding Bingley was actually Henry Harding Bingley. Birth and death certificates, personal accounts from those who knew him and his First World War attestation paper all confirm his correct name. On his attestation paper, he signed “Henry Harding Bingley” and listed his occupation as artist.
To his family, Henry went by the nickname “Jim”. Like his brothers’ nicknames, it had no direct link to his actual first name.
Legacy
Henry Harding Bingley signed his work in various ways, and earlier publication errors sometimes caused misattributions — including the mistaken name “Herbert”.
Today, collectors and enthusiasts admire his paintings for their gentle, timeless vision of the British landscape.