Henry Barlow Carter – A Scarborough Painter

Born on Bermondsey, Henry Barlow Carter (1804 to 1868) painted from an early age and in around 1830 he moved to Hull.

Here he taught at Hull Art School before moving to Scarborough.

He married Eliza Sollit at St Mary’s Church in the Old Town in 1830, and they had three children. 

Carter worked in Scarborough from 1831 to around 1858.

The family had a property in York Place, one of the town’s most elegant streets.

Carter continued to teach art, and was resident artist at the town’s Theakston’s book shop (where the current Marks and Spencer store is located).

Solomon Wilkinson Theakston moved to Scarborough in 1828, and he was the proprietor of the Scarborough Gazette and Carter’s paintings sometimes features on the front page.

Theakston also established a library, stationers and a printing works in various locations in St Nicholas Street. 

Some of Theakston’s customers are thought to have been the Bronte sisters.

A book entitled Scarborough Illustrated was published by Theakston featuring drawings by Carter.

Scarborough Art Gallery in the town’s Crescent, has a good collection of Carter’s paintings.

Carter’s collection of works is considerable, and he undoubtedly found Scarborough truly inspiring. His works feature scenes of Scalby Mills, Scarborough Castle and the Harbour.

Carter also painted regional places including Helmsley, Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and York. 

Carter later moved to Bath and died there in 1868.

Carter’s works are clearly influenced by JMW Turner and Peter de Wint.

His techniques included cutting and abrading the surface of the paper along with sponging, a key aspect of his style.

One of Carter’s sons, Henry Vandyke Carter (1831 to 1897) qualified in medicine in 1852.

Henry used his own artistic talent to  illustrate the famous medical text book ‘Gray’s Anatomy’.

He later joined the Indian Medical Service in 1858 and had a distinguished career. 

Henry returned to Scarborough and died in May 1897.