CHARLES SUMMERS PLATE FOR BEST SEASCAPE

This trophy was given to the club by founder member Charles Summers (1912-2000). Prior to his passing, Charles wanted to create a trophy for his beloved Art Club. He gave his daughter, Ros Summers, the task of designing the Charles Summers Silver Plate with strict instructions that the trophy recognised the Best Seascape in the TAC Annual Summer Exhibition.

Since it was donated in 2001, this has been judged by Ros, a well known equestrian artist, winner of many prizes, exhibiting throughout the UK and a Member of the Glasgow Society of Women Artists.

Charles was born in Dennistoun in Glasgow and went on to become Provost of Troon. Educated at Whitehill School he then studied drawing and painting at Glasgow School of Art, and graduated from Jordanhill College of Education in 1934.

Joining the Royal Navy at the outbreak of World War Two, he achieved the rank of First Lieutenant, before commanding a landing craft on Utah Beach on D-Day.

His artistic skills were called upon when his advice was sought by the Admiralty concerning more suitable colours for camouflage on ships in convoy which were vulnerable to U-boat attacks at dawn and dusk. He suggested pinker tones to lessen the effects of the silhouettes against the skyline.

After D-Day he was posted to India, where he remained until 1946. On his return, he and his wife settled in Troon where he became a founder member of Troon Art Club and pursued his love of the theatre with Troon Drama Club, developing skills in make-up, set designing, and stage directing. He taught art in many schools in Glasgow and Ayrshire and enjoyed many years at Ayr Academy. Eventually he settled in his last and most successful department at Prestwick where he became principal teacher of art, first at the local high school and finally, until 1976, at Prestwick Academy.

Charles was proud to have taught Peter Howson, later chosen as the official Bosnian War artist, at Prestwick and followed the progress of his pupil with great interest.

He moved to Symington in 1982 with his wife and daughter, where he started an art class and re-discovered his love of landscape painting.

An accomplished caricaturist, he worked at one time for the Daily Express. He always maintained that the most important area in any school was the art department – not because of what it puts in, but because of what it brings out.