The Esterels from near Bandol

John Shapland was born in Dawlish and lived in Exeter for most of his life. He is known for both landscapes and seascapes in watercolour and oil.
This watercolour with its loose composition and continental style of colouring is typical of his work. It depicts the Esterel Massif, a Mediterranean coastal mountain range in Provence, south east France.
Shapland was a pupil of James Bruce Birkmyer at the Exeter School of Art and also studied watercolour painting under Charles E. Georges at Exmouth Art School. He succeeded Birmyer as principal of Exeter School of Art (1899-1913).