Cotman Close, named after: John Sell Cotman artist 1782-1842

John Sell Cotman was an English marine and landscape painter, etcher and illustrator, after whom Cotman Close is named. Educated at Norwich Grammar School, he displayed an early artistic talent, though his father hoped he would join the family business. Defying expectations, Cotman moved to London in 1798, where he mingled with prominent artists like J. M. W. Turner and Thomas Girtin, joining their sketching club and traveling with them to Wales and Surrey. By 1800, Cotman was exhibiting at the Royal Academy, showcasing his watercolours of the Welsh countryside. His artistic journey took him across Britain, including Yorkshire, where he produced notable watercolours of the River Greta. Returning to Norwich in 1806, Cotman became an influential figure in the Norwich Society of Artists. Cotman's work included etchings and watercolours, influenced by his travels to Normandy and his studies of marine subjects while living in Great Yarmouth. In 1834, Cotman was appointed Master of Landscape Drawing at King's College, London, where he taught and befriended other artists. Despite his struggles with depression and financial issues, Cotman's legacy grew posthumously, with significant collections of his work held in various institutions, including the British Museum and Yale Center for British Art. His reputation, initially overlooked, is now recognized for its originality and contribution to early 19th-century British art.