Walter Russell RA: Bustling Harbour Scene 1930 Normandy oil painting

An idyllic, bustling harbour on the Normandy coast, painted by Walter Westley Russell (1867-1949). 
As a landscape artist, Russell painted mainly in Yorkshire, Norfolk and Sussex, but he is also known to have worked in Normandy, where the present work was likely created. 

Russell was born in Forest Gate, Essex and studied at the Westminster School of Art under Professor Frederick Brown. He exhibited five works at the Royal Academy between 1891 and 1904, including The Pierrots, Tea Time and a portrait. He exhibited at New English Art Club from 1893.
He was a teacher and then Assistant Professor at the Slade School of Fine Art between 1895 and 1927 and one of 150 artists chosen to represent Britain at the 1912 Venice Biennale Exhibition. His work was also part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics. It is a lovely the our very fresh and dynamic painting was created close to this period in date. 

Russell was elected an Associate Member of the Royal Academy on 22 April 1920, becoming a full Academician on 23 February 1926 and a Senior Academician on 1 January 1943. He served as Keeper of the Royal Academy Schools from October 1927.
Russell was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1931 and was knighted in 1935.
Works by the artist are now in many major regional museums in England and Scotland (Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and other), as well as in the Tate. A beach scene from the late 1930s is in the Royal Academy of Arts.

Measuring 24 x 33 cm for the canvas alone, the overall size including a heavy limed oak frame is 34.5 x 43 cm.