Jawdokimov … London’s finest
ALEX JAWDOKIMOV is a wonderful painter and I don’t know whether to claim him as a British artist or whether he is a Russian artist. Either way he produces some very fine work.
Alex was born in Smolensk, Russia on a Kolhoz (collective farm) and spent much of his early life in a struggle for survival.
He and his family were captured and moved from one concentration camp to another throughout Europe during the Second World War.
A born entertainer, after the war he got to be known by the troops he and his mother entertained in the refugee camps across Europe.
Somehow, he and his mother had survived the Holocaust and found an affinity with the British troops in particular. Maybe this is why they eventually came to England in 1947.
His mother found work as a housekeeper in a large stately home in Somerset.
Young Alex, already fluent in four languages, apparently learnt English within two weeks of arriving at school.
He went on to study at Somerset School of Art and developed a following for
his passion to entertain very quickly.
He was not only a fantastic artist and illustrator (his early career) but he was a very capable dancer, musician and talented actor too.
Indeed, he managed to win some fairly substantial film parts and appeared alongside the likes of Sean Connery, Larry Hagman and Michael Caine and worked with directors such as Ken Russell and John Sturges.
He had, by this stage also carved out a career as a professional dancer too!
A multi-talented man who is well into his eighties and still painting.
Painting is Jawdokimov’s first love and he says he has never stopped painting his whole life. Whatever career he has followed the one constant has been his painting. For him “Art never stops”.
This beautiful watercolour is one of Jawdokimov’s London series of watercolours.
It was painted in 2007 and is of The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben beside the iconic River Thames, with the ubiquitous red London buses passing by on The Embankment.
It is a stunning painting with a beautiful simplicity and cleanliness to the image.
This painting is available currently in my showroom or online, along with many others, and is a real bargain at only £500.
Alternatively, we now offer a leasing arrangement, so this along with all of our paintings, can be rented for a small fixed monthly rental fee.
This piece, along with many other great works, is available to view, purchase or rent at AntiqArt, the “pre-loved art” gallery at Holme Grange Craft Village or online at www. antiqart.co.uk or call us on 0118 327 5421.