London Lights Up Again, Harry Ousey (1915-1985)
Harry Ousey (1915-1985) has had a home at Elephantstones Gallery for sometime now. We love sharing his remarkable story and art, working with Sue Astles, Harry’s niece, to bring Harry’s work back into Hayfield Village and beyond!
With the 75th anniversary of V.E Day approaching, we would like to share this note from Sue on one of Harry’s early works in response to the end of the Second World War, 75 years on.
The musings of Sue Astles, Ousey’s niece, on Harry’s experience of V.E day 75 Years ago:
“As the United Kingdom celebrates V.E. Day on the 8th May, Harry has been in my thoughts. Would he and my Aunt Susie have joined in the dancing and singing in Trafalgar Square on that wonderful, life changing day? I would love to think so.
Bombardier Frederick Henry Ousey joined the Royal Artillery in 1939 and spent the latter part of the Second World War at London’s Woolwich Barracks. Harry and Susie had married in February 1942 and moved from Manchester to Catford in London’s dockland - “A tiny flat with holes in the walls, only cold water, windows missing”.
Earlier drawings and possessions had been destroyed during an air raid but, he was able to create this powerful image looking towards St. Paul’s Cathedral as “lights began to appear in the streets again lighting shapes we had not seen before, and some familiar places were gone for ever”.
“We too were not without our scars”.
The oil on board was exhibited at Salford Art Gallery as part of the Harry Ousey Centenary exhibition “One Needs More Than Paint” and “A Sense of Place” at Stockport Art Gallery in 2018.”
- Sue Astles
May 2020
Although the gallery is closed to the public for now, there is still plenty to explore and read about Harry and his works online.
Visit www.harryousey.co.uk to see more of Harry’s work, or click here to read about Harry’s story at the gallery.