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Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe RA 1901 - 1979
The West Park Museum collection contains a considerable collection of work by the well-known bird artist Charles Tunnicliffe (1901-1979) who was born in Langley near Macclesfield and grew up at Sutton Lane Ends Farm. This includes his early material, his etchings, oil painting and water-colours as well as showing the various techniques he used in book illustrations.
Charles Frederick Tunnicliffe was born in 1901 in the village of Langley near Macclesfield. Before moving to Langley his parents William and Margaret were tenants of the Eagle and Child Public House, Gradbach. In Langley, William set up in his former trade of shoemaker, where his shoes and clogs were in great demand. In 1904 the family moved to Sutton Lane Ends Farm to accommodate the growing family of four children.
Charles had to work hard assisting with the farm chores but from an early age his artistic talent was recognised and encouraged by Buckley Moffat, headmaster at Sutton village school. Moffat helped secure him a place at the Macclesfield School of Art in 1916. At the Art School he was further encouraged by Thomas Cartwright, headmaster from 1907-1927.
He continued his studies at the Manchester School of Art before winning a scholarship to the Royal College of Art in London. Tunnicliffe's future wife, Winifred Wonnacott, was also a student at the Royal College of Art and she supported and encouraged him throughout his career.
After obtaining his teaching diploma Tunnicliffe was offered a scholarship in the college's new Etching and Engraving School. It was at this time that he produced many of his finest etchings of the Cheshire countryside and farm animals with which he was so familiar. These were offered for sale through Malcolm Salaman, who had many contacts with publishers, art dealers and critics. At the same time he taught part-time at Woolwich Polytechnic.
In 1928 Tunnicliffe decided to return to Macclesfield. His father had died in 1925 and the family had given up the farm in Langley and had moved to Macclesfield.
Charles and Winifred married and set up home in Nicholson Avenue, Hurdsfield. Winifred continued to teach and Charles earned a living through his etchings and commercial work for manufacturers of cattle food, fertilisers and veterinary products such as ICI, Bibbys and Boots.
In 1927 Henry Williamson's 'Tarka the Otter' was published to great acclaim. Tunnicliffe offered himself as prospective illustrator of the book and illustrated the 1932 edition. His wood engravings were warmly received and Tunnicliffe subsequently illustrated a number of other books by Williamson. His reputation as a book illustrator firmly established, he subsequently illustrated over 100 books, including several books for Alison Uttley, 'Green Tide' by Richard Church, 'Both Sides of the Road' by Sidney Rogerson, 'The Seasons and The Woodman' by D H Chapman, A 'Book of Birds' by Mary Priestley and several in the Ladybird series.
Tunnicliffe produced several books of his own, the first being 'My Country Book' (1942) followed by 'Bird Portraiture' in 1945 then 'Mereside Chronicle' (1948) based in Cheshire and the much acclaimed 'Shorelands Summer Diary' (1952) produced after the Tunnicliffe's had left Macclesfield and moved to Anglesey in 1947.
He had always tried to draw his birds as accurately as possible. Wagstaffe, curator of Stockport Museum, had suggested that Tunnicliffe study and record bird specimens in a scientific manner. He encouraged his neighbours to bring in to his studio any birds which they found killed by accident and considered the resulting measured drawings along with his sketchbooks to be essential reference tools for all his work.
Tunnicliffe became a major contributor to the RSPB, producing many of the front covers for Bird Notes and numerous Christmas and greetings cards. He continued to undertake commissions in both oil and watercolour and exhibited frequently at the Royal Academy.
His wife Winifred died in 1969 and he found the last years of his life lonely and increasingly difficult as his eyesight failed. Tunnicliffe continued to work in his studio in Anglesey, overlooking the Malltraeth estuary, until his death in 1979.
For a while it seemed likely that his studio material would be broken up but Anglesey Borough Council with grant aid from government sources acquired the collection. After several years of debate a purpose built gallery was built on Anglesey to house the material within a museum of Anglesey life.
Macclesfield has always been proud of its connections with Tunnicliffe and West Park Museum and Art Gallery, established in 1898 as the Town Museum, has had a collection of his etchings and oil paintings for many years.
In 1996 the Museum was refurbished and a permanent display of work by Tunnicliffe was established. At that time the Museum received a substantial gift of material which has enhanced the existing collection.
In addition to the permanent displays there are regular temporary exhibitions showing different aspects of his work.
You can find the Tunnicliffe Society Website at www.thecharlestunnicliffesociety.co.uk