Byron Bauckham, artist and signwriter, in his studio c1910s

This photograph shows Byron Bauckham (1855–1924), a Grimsby artist, painter and decorator and signwriter, seated in his studio with a palette, brushes and mahlstick. Paintings surround him, including maritime subjects, providing a fascinating glimpse of both the artist and his working environment.

Byron was born in Romford, Essex, in 1855, the son of Charles and Annie Bauckham. The family came to Grimsby when Byron was about 15, and in 1871 they were living at 96 Albert Street. Byron was already described as a painter at that age. In 1880 he married Mildred Rushby of Grimsby, and the couple subsequently lived at 73 Thesiger Street with their large family. Byron worked as a painter, decorator and signwriter and died in 1924.

Several of Byron's children and later descendants followed similar trades. His son Byron Vandyke Bauckham (1881–1939) kept the Bauckham painters' and decorators' stores at 22 Wintringham Road, on the corner of Legsby Avenue, for 11 years until his death. The shop was subsequently taken over by his nephew, (Henry) Ralph Bauckham (1919–2000), the son of Byron's son Henry Landseer Bauckham.

Ralph was a signwriter who later worked for Grimsby Corporation and painted the beautiful mural in the Assembly Room at Grimsby Town Hall. In 1937, he and another boy made headlines after undertaking a daring six-mile voyage to Spurn Point and back in a canvas canoe they had built themselves, encountering porpoises during the journey. His granddaughter, Hannah, describes Ralph as a very funny and creative character, perhaps a combination of fearless and reckless.

Hannah's mother, Christine, has also provided a vivid recollection of the Bauckham shop at 22 Wintringham Road. She remembers it as a good-sized premises, with storage space to the left, a main entrance with the counter and displays, and a back room where paint was mixed — and where there was time for a cup of tea. The shop also sold paraffin and putty for putting glass into windows.

The exact location of the studio shown in this photograph is not known. The connection with 22 Wintringham Road is nevertheless an important part of the story of the Bauckham family's long association with painting, decorating and signwriting in Grimsby.

The photograph came to light through Grimsby's ‘Canoe River Cleaner’ Facebook Group, following the sharing of a J. W. Hardy photograph showing a couple in a canoe. Hannah recognised the man in that photograph as her grandfather, Ralph Bauckham, leading to the discovery of this wonderful photograph of his grandfather, Byron.

The photograph was kindly supplied by Christine, Hannah's mother. Photographer unknown.

Coincidentally, an original oil portrait signed ‘B. Bauckham’ and dated 1906, possibly depicting a fisherman, is also featured on this website. It provides an example of Byron Bauckham's work as an artist and adds another fascinating connection to this photograph of him in his studio.