Artwork
Mowcop
Mowcop is a watercolor work on paper by Cheek. It dates from 1943 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Mowcop, a watercolour painted in 1943 by the artist Cheek, forms part of the Recording Britain project. The work records a specific landscape—a weathered tower perched on a grassy rise under a muted sky—using a loose, textured brushwork that emphasizes the scene’s rugged character.
Subject & Meaning
The picture captures a solitary, dark tower set against a gently rolling hillside, its surfaces rendered with thick, uneven strokes that suggest age and exposure. The subdued palette and sketch‑like handling convey a sense of quiet endurance, reflecting wartime anxieties about the preservation of familiar rural landmarks.
Technique & Style
Cheek employs rapid, almost scribbled brushstrokes to build surface texture rather than precise outlines. The watercolour is applied in a heavy, impasto manner, giving the tower a lumpy, weathered appearance, while the background sky is washed out in pale greens and browns, creating a contrast between the solid form and the airy horizon.
History & Provenance
Created under the Recording Britain scheme, the piece was commissioned to document England’s built environment during World War II. Funded by the Pilgrim Trust and supervised by Sir Kenneth Clark, the project enlisted artists to capture at‑risk sites, serving both archival and morale‑boosting functions. The work remains within the collection assembled for this national recording effort.
Artist & collection
Artist
Cheek painted quiet British streets and landmarks in watercolor during the 1940s, leaving behind soft, unhurried scenes of St.
![Marlborough House [garden front], Falmouth, by Cheek](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/cheek--marlborough-house-garden-front-falmouth--3a2b89526c7641e3-w320.webp)
![Deserted Tin-Mine, Cornwall. [ 1938 ], by Hardie](https://artifactworldgallery.com/img/hardie--deserted-tin-mine-cornwall-1938--abfeba7bb57d1e54-w320.webp)
