CALLS have been made for a late Coventry artist to be recognised in next year’s City of Culture celebrations.
Robert Overy, who died in 1989, is renowned for his black-and-white drawings of historic buildings which survived the Blitz.
But he is best known for his watercolours, many of which are now across the world, in several museums and public collections.
Most notably he illustrated a guide to Saint Mary’s Guildhall still on sale there today. Lesser known were his sensitive paintings of plants and flowers, detailed pencil sketches and oil paintings.
His daughter, Jill who lives in Warwick, said: “Even though it is 31 years since my father died, I can still hear his voice extolling the beauties of the ancient buildings of the city. How he loved them, and wanted everyone in Coventry to love them too! He would have been so excited that his adoptive city was having such special celebrations next year, and for him to be just a little part of that would make my sister and me so very proud.”
And Coun Gary Ridley said: “Robert Overy has left a legacy of great work which is still loved and celebrated in the city. His work is so distinctive it’s instantly recognisable to many people. Like many Coventrians I remember his prints being on the wall in my family home.
“As a young boy they inspired me to learn more about my home city, so I was extremely excited to meet his daughter recently. He captured a real part of our civic story so it’s only right that he takes his place in the celebrations next year.”
Several of Robert’s black-and-white prints of city landmarks did not survive as they were on board HMS Coventry when she sank during the Falklands War in 1982.
Last autumn a campaign led by Coventry Conservatives was launched to name one of Britain’s new warships ‘HMS Coventry’ in commemoration of the City of Culture 2021. Following this, one of the artist’s daughters Jill approached Conservatives leader, Coun Gary Ridley, offering to donate a selection of his prints if a new ship was to become a reality.
It was during this conversation they discussed how his art work should also be celebrated during the City of Culture.
Coun Ridley and Shadow Cabinet Member for Culture, Coun Roger Bailey, have since written to the City of Culture Trust about the idea.
Coun Bailey said: “There’s so much of our story which we need to share with the outside world and Robert Overy is part of that. In his life Robert Overy recorded many famous landmarks at a time of great change for the city as it struggled to recover from war. We must find a way to celebrate his works during our year as City of Culture. That’s why we’re seeking support from events organisers.”
The artist and former French teacher moved from Kent to Coventry in 1958 with his wife Paddy and twin daughters, Pat and Jill, where he began a new career with what was then the Standard Triumph Motor Company. He was responsible for the design of the company’s garage and showroom frontages across the UK and overseas.
Robert also contributed to the city’s culture in many other ways – as President of the Triumph Motors Art Society, working as art correspondent for the Coventry Evening Telegraph, a founder member of the Coventry Painters in Watercolour and member of the Cathedral’s Choir.
He completed his final painting, a watercolour of the river at Stratford on Avon, the day before he died in 1989. Robert is buried in Canley Cemetery along with his wife, who outlived him by 20 years.
