The Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is celebrating the legacy of Thomas Sidney Cooper to Canterbury in a number of ways – from publishing a book about his life to setting up a new archive, getting a new blue plaque placed outside the gallery building and running talks and events.
‘Separated, but not Divorced’ is the title of the new book on Thomas Sidney Cooper by Dr Darren Henley CBE, published by the Trust.
A local Canterbury resident, Darren has long been fascinated by Cooper and studied him at postgraduate level. ‘Separated, but not Divorced –The Artistic Life and Times of Thomas Sidney Cooper‘, reappraises the life and artistic legacy of Sidney Cooper and argues that, though this style of Victorian landscape painting is no longer in vogue, his work deserves greater recognition.
The title of the book is taken from Separated, but not Divorced, the title of the magnificent picture of Charlie the Bull displayed in The Beaney Museum in Canterbury. Darren argues that this title is a good allegory for the life of Sidney himself – self taught, he became a hugely successful painter in Victorian England but was never really accepted by the London art ‘establishment’.
This beautiful hardback art book, with 36 full colour illustrations, is available at The Beaney Museum on Canterbury High Street, Waterstones in Canterbury and the CCCU campus bookshop.
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is exploring ideas with the University for the Creative Arts, the institutional successor of Cooper’s original School of Art, for a programme to celebrate Cooper’s artistic legacy.
Sidney Cooper Arts Trust is collaborating with The Beaney Museum and the University for the Creative Arts on the feasibility of raising funding to establish a new centrally held archive to bring together the disparate holdings of Cooper work and effects held by his family, Cooper collectors and experts, The Beaney, the UCA and Canterbury Christ Church University.
We are making sure Canterbury and region knows about the legacy of Sidney Cooper by speaking regularly at events around the city. The next public lecture is at The Horsebridge Centre, Whitstable (March 4th 2026) but we also talk to local community groups and associations on request. Please get in touch with us.
The Canterbury Commemoration Society has approved a request by the Sidney Cooper Arts Trust to erect a blue plaque to Sidney Cooper on the exterior of the gallery building (and which was also his birthplace). This would complement the existing blue plaque at Vernon Holme, the house Cooper built at Harbledown outside Canterbury (and currently the home of Kent College Junior School).
‘Separated, but not Divorced’ – the artistic life and times of Thomas Sidney Cooper’ by Dr Darren Henley. Publisher: The Sidney Cooper Research Group/Arts Trust, Canterbury. ISBN 978-1-9192746-0-7. The book is available to purchase for £20 at The Beaney, CCCU bookshop and Waterstones Canterbury.
Alison Coles, Vice-Chair, has given a number of talks on the life and work of Sidney Cooper, including to the Canterbury Society. If you are interested in arranging a talk for your group please contact Alison on alisonc@sidneycooperarts.org.
Contact us to find out more or tell us what you’d like to see in a newly re-opened Sidney Cooper building in Canterbury