Timeline

Charles Spencelayh was the son of Henry Spencelayh, an engineer and iron brass founder. Born in Rochester, Kent, Charles entered the National Art Training School (latterly the Royal College of Art) in 1885. This was followed by studies at the Royal Academy, where he showed his work from 1892 with few interruptions until 1958. To complete his training, he went to study in Paris, where he also exhibited at the Paris Salon. Although Spencelayh was renowned for his many studies in oils, he also achieved acclaim as a watercolourist, an etcher and for portrait miniatures. It was Spencelayh who painted a miniature of King George V for Queen Mary’s celebrated dolls’ house, which was on display at the Wembley Exhibition of 1924 and is now at Windsor Castle. The work of Spencelayh is represented in several museums including Bradford City Art Gallery; the Tate Gallery, London; the Manchester City Art Gallery; and the Harris Museum and Art Gallery, Preston.