Drafted and added to Workington's page on Wikipedia June 2009.
Albert Rosser (1899-1995) - Watercolour artist, who prefered to work from life and with natural light. Now considered one of the twentieth century's outstanding Lakeland watercolourists. 'A small (he was under five feet) and gentle man whose pursuit of beauty took him to some wonderful lake district locations at some very odd hours'[19]. Largely self-taught, Albert painted from the age of nine until his eyesight faded in his 80s. He spent time in the America and worked as a crane operator in Buffalo, but he lived most of his life at Moss Bay with his wife Ada (ne Rowe). Fitting painting around his growing family and a variety of jobs (steelworker, meter reader and clerk), he was never prolific and enjoyed giving away more paintings than he sold. Respectfully addressed as 'Mr Rosser' by neighbours and friends alike. 'He was a self-effacing man, his own sternest critic and less intent on creating a status for himself than on creating visions of beauty' [20].