Neville Southby Pitcher RSMA, British 1889-1959- Thames Tugs on duty with the Royal Navy, Southend-on-Sea; oil on canvas, signed and dated 1942, bears inscribed label attached to the reverse of the stretcher, 41x51cm Note: The present work was commissioned by Miss Pamela Flora Digby Bell, 3rd Officer of the W.R.N.S., later promoted to Second Officer in 1943. Pitcher was born in London in 1889 and studied art under Frank Brangwyn. He served in the Merchant Navy from 1906-10 and was a Lieutenant in the Thames Naval Control Service, Southend, from 1939-45. He later lived in Rye, Sussex and was a member of the Royal Society of Marine Artists. He exhibited 13 pictures at the Royal Academy between 1912 and 1942, and also showed at the RI and the ROI. Please refer to department for condition report