Rachel Reckitt (1908-1995) was a 20th-century modernist artist who lived and worked in West Somerset for over 60 years. Reckitt was a woman who rejected the conventions of her time, gender and class. Her lifelong-artistic endeavor spans avant garde painting, sculpture, wood engraving and blacksmithing.
This blog supports ‘Chance Encounters: The Art of Rachel Reckitt’ a retrospective exhibition of her paintings, sculpture and wood engravings.
The Tour
Rachel Reckitt produced many artworks for the local churches surrounding her Golsconcott home, many of which can still be seen today. She also created a number of pub signs within Somerset, and one in Devon. Her work can still be seen on a journey through West Somerset, within churches and on pub signs.
These creations dotted around the community express Reckitt’s instinct to bring her artwork out of the gallery and into public spaces, where people of all walks of life come together with a common purpose, whether that be to think and pray, to connect or to be entertained.
Pub Signs
There are five of Rachel Reckitt’s sculptured signs to find in Somerset and Devon pubs. The signs are made of metal sheeting (tin or aluminium) and the designs depict are expressionist in character. They were crafted by bending and shaping narrow strips of metal and other materials.
- 1937 Valiant Soldier, Roadwater, Somerset. Depicting a solider, and made from carved wood and tin.
- 1937 White Horse, Washford, Somerset (now inside the pub)
- 1938 Butchers Arms, Carhampton, Somerset
- 1938 Halfway House, Willand, Devon
- 1939 Blackbird Inn, West Buckland, Somerset (no longer in situ)
Churches
The church played a central role in Reckitt’s life, as it often did for many of her generation living in rural communities. For both Reckitt and her mother, supporting the church also meant supporting the structure of the community. Reckitt’s interest in ecclesiastical architecture can also be seen within her extensive travel notes, she wrote knowledgably about the churches and monasteries that she visited during her travels.
The churches surrounding the Golsoncott area still contain many artworks made by Rachel: carvings, sculptures and paintings. Here are five Somerset churches that contain her work:
- 1955–72 St Bartholomew, Rodhuish, Somerset. Includes sculpture Jacob Wrestling with the Angel (1972) a sculpture combining aluminium and iron work, carved angel terminals for the font (1961), metal light fitting, various artworks by Rachel and Jim Horrobin, and embroidery altar frontals created by Rachel’s mother.
- 1974 Altar screen at St Andrew’s, Old Cleeve, created with James Horrobin. Three large angels are arranged above a alter screen made of fibre-glass and painted with the patron saints.
- 1976 St Giles, Leighland, Somerset. Includes metalwork panel, metal light fitting/candelabra, wood carving paintings, and pulpit decorated with passion flowers and foliage.
- 1988 Sculpture of St Nicolas at the Church of St Nicholas, Withycombe, Somerset. A painted and gilded metalwork sculpture within a medieval setting.
- Praying Figure, St John the Baptist Church, Carhampton. Depicts a praying woman craved from local elm.
Golsoncott House
Reckitt lived in her family home Golsoncott, an impressive Arts and Crafts house, on the edge of Exmoor. She resided at Golsoncott near Roadwater until she died in 1995. Most of Rachel’s art was created at her studios there. In 1940 the house became an official war nursery, with children from the East End of London billeted in the old staff wing. The house still remains a local place of interest.
Visit the Exhibition
The exhibition ‘Chance Encounters: The Art of Rachel Reckitt’ is on display at the Museum of Somerset until 15 March 2025.
There is a programme of events supporting the exhibition, including art tours and a talk and tea. See our What’s On pages for more info.
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Read the rest of the behind-the-scenes blog series.