Artist

Alec Fleming

Painter, Alderley Edge, Cheshire

1903–1978

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 17: A study of a young woman with short hair, in a turquoise blue dress, seated on a blue cane chair, against a muted grey/blue- background. — Alec Fleming, *Woman In A Turquoise Dress*, Date not recorded

Introduction

Alec Fleming (1903–1978) was a painter associated with Alderley Edge, Cheshire. His recorded work includes townscapes, countryside and coastal subjects, and scenes of France and Italy.^{1, 2}

Alec Fleming and Barbara Fleming are catalogued as distinct artists. Where a work cannot yet be assigned to either, it is listed as uncertain. Barbara Fleming

Selected works

All works by Alec Fleming in the collection

Signed or firmly attributed

Cat. 17

Woman In A Turquoise Dress

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on unprimed prepared board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 76: A vase of narcissus in glass on a pewter charger. Set against a background of greys and umbers.

Cat. 76

Spring Flowers

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 79: Head and shoulders study of a middle aged woman in a brown scoop necked sweater against a turquoise background.

Cat. 79

Portrait of Lily

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 80: Small study of a farm house with apentis and hangar, on a flat landscape.

Cat. 80

Farmhouse With Fields

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Cat. 137

Red Rose

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Cat. 144

Blooms

Alec Fleming

1950s (approximate) · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 194: A half portrait of an elderly woman knitting.

Cat. 194

A Study of Woman Knitting a Garment

Alec Fleming

1970s (approximate) · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 320: A spray of roses in a white vase.

Cat. 320

Rose Bowl

Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Showing 8 of 13. See all in the collection

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Oil portrait of a woman with dark hair dressed with a small bow, wearing a purple twin set and a double strand of pearls, against a dark brown ground.

Cat. 1

Woman in a Pearl Necklace

Attributed to Alec Fleming

1930s in style · Oil on hand-stretched canvas, fixed with nails; unframed

Loosely painted oil portrait of a bearded man with dark hair in a cream open-necked shirt, set against dark umber and green brushwork.

Cat. 2

Self Portrait – Alec Fleming

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Possibly early to mid-1960s, in style · Oil on hardboard

Rapidly painted oil study of the head and shoulders of a bearded man with dark hair in a pale open-necked shirt, against a terracotta-pink ground.

Cat. 3

Self Portrait – Head, Alec Fleming

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Possibly mid-1960s, in style · Oil on hardboard

Thickly painted oil study of two large mauve and purple flowers above dark green leaves.

Cat. 4

African Violets

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hardboard, unvarnished

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 9: A collection of pan tiled farm buidlings, divided by a road with a low range of hills in the distance. Hangar buildings to the foreground. Likely a view of buildings in Touille in the Haute Garrone department of South West France. Painted in 1953 in an orthodox A Fleming style.

Cat. 9

Farm Buildings France

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hand stretched, primed canvas. stretched with 24 nails, on home made stretcher

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 13: A partially opened box of figs in paper on a table with wallpaper to the background.

Cat. 13

A Box Of Figs

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 15: A water fountain in a town square in strong sunlight.

Cat. 15

The Fountain

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Date not recorded · Oil on unprimed hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 16: Head of a young woman in a floral chemise. Possibly 1970s.

Cat. 16

Study of A Young Woman In A Floral Shirt

Attributed to Alec Fleming

1970s (approximate) · Oil on primed hardboard

Showing 8 of 176. See all in the collection

Possibly by Alec Fleming

Works the catalogue tentatively associates with Alec Fleming; attribution remains uncertain.

Boldly painted still life of yellow pears outlined in dark paint beside an oil and vinegar cruet, on a bright blue cloth against a dark green background.

Cat. 8

Still Life with Pears

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on primed board, unvarnished

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 10: A close view of a collection of village houses, one with a gateway flanked by two trees. Appentis to the foreground.

Cat. 10

Village Houses, France

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on prepared panel

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 14: Apples and lemons on a reflected surface.

Cat. 14

Still Life -Fruit

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on primed hardboard

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 34: View across a sandy cove with a monument on a hill to the background.

Cat. 34

The Cove From Above

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on hardboard- unvarnished

Cat. 94

Woman In A Blue Headscarf

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 179: A blue pool beneath the entrance to a cave.

Cat. 179

The Cave

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

1960s–1970s (approximate) · Oil on board. framed and inset in white woord

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 205: A seated nude, with big hair on green cloth.

Cat. 205

Study of a Nude

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

1970s (approximate) · Oil on hard board

Reference photograph of catalogue no. 210: Head of a woman in a pale blue jacket with short hair.

Cat. 210

Study of a Woman With Short Hair

Possibly Alec Fleming (attribution uncertain)

Date not recorded · Oil on hard board

Showing 8 of 15. See all in the collection

Biography

Published references

Fiona Bailey’s 2012 account for The White Gallery identifies Barbara Fleming, also a painter, as Alec’s wife and places them in Alderley Edge. It describes paintings of European cities and landscapes alongside Cheshire subjects. This gallery account provides an early published reference to the artists, rather than a complete family history.¹

Auction catalogues document oil paintings on board, including The Yellow Tram, City Skyline and Rue des Abbesses, Paris. These records preserve details of his subjects, materials and inscriptions.^{2, 3, 4}

Exhibitions

Wilson55’s 2012 catalogue note for The Yellow Tram states that Alec first exhibited in the 1950s. The archive has not yet verified the venues or precise exhibition dates.²

Research

Many boards in the collection are marked “A Fleming” on the reverse. The catalogue considers that this marking may denote ownership rather than authorship, probably applied by Alec Fleming, and it is not treated as evidence that he painted a work.

Information about Alec Fleming — documents, photographs, exhibition records or recollections — is welcome. Contact the archive

Alec Fleming

Introduction

Selected works

Signed or firmly attributed

Woman In A Turquoise Dress

Spring Flowers

Portrait of Lily

Farmhouse With Fields

Red Rose

Blooms

A Study of Woman Knitting a Garment

Rose Bowl

Attributed to Alec Fleming

Woman in a Pearl Necklace

Self Portrait – Alec Fleming

Self Portrait – Head, Alec Fleming

African Violets

Farm Buildings France

A Box Of Figs

The Fountain

Study of A Young Woman In A Floral Shirt

Possibly by Alec Fleming

Still Life with Pears

Village Houses, France

Still Life -Fruit

The Cove From Above

Woman In A Blue Headscarf

The Cave

Study of a Nude

Study of a Woman With Short Hair

Biography

Published references

Exhibitions

Research

Sources