Two finely painted head portraits of an Irish Setter with white markings and a Gordon Setter by Colin Graeme Roe. Both sporting dog portraits are set within similar atmospheric landscapes, alluding to the working roles of the dogs. Setters were first bred in the UK during the 15th century and have long been used for hunting and flushing out game. They get their name from the distinctive crouch or ‘set’ they make when locating their quarry.

Colin Graeme Roe was born in Dunoon, Argyll in Scotland on 25 December 1855 to the artist Robert Henry Roe (1793-1880) and Emma Baily. His brothers Clarence Henry Roe (1850-1909), Robert Ernest Roe (1851-1930), Herbert Percy Roe (1852-1883) and sister Eva Constance Roe (b.1859) were all artists. His uncle (his father’s half- brother) was the artist Alfred Frederick Roe (1864-1947), better known as Fred Roe. The family lived in Cumbria and then Yorkshire in Boston Spa, but by 1871 had settled in Eyam near Sheffield. He was probably tutored by his father who influenced his style and subject matter, alongside his siblings. He initially signed his work ‘Colin Graeme Roe’ but later dropped the surname ‘Roe’ in order to distinguish himself from other artist family members such as his older brother Clarence.

He married Caroline Louisa Andrews at Oystermouth, Glamorgan on 21 September 1876 and together they had 5 children. They lived in Swansea for a time before settling in Sheffield at 20 Rupert Road. By 1901, they were living at 97 Meersbrook Park Road. Although he spent most of his life in Sheffield he did travel around earning commissions and spent some time in Whitstable, Kent around 1886 where their daughter Margery was born and coincidently the year this work was painted. He died at Sheffield in April 1910.

Roe was a highly gifted painter and became best known for his excellent depiction of sporting dogs. He was particularly fond of painting setters and pointers, as seen in these wonderful examples. A number of his works can be found at the Dudley Museum and the Sheffield Museum.

© Benton Fine Art