Diana Dabinett I have two wonderful memories of Tony!
Jane Hunter (Sarnia) I have been thinking of Tony in quiet moments. The thoughts were “What can I say” beyond how much I admired his generosity of spirit, sense of humour and his dedication to the C..S.P.W.C. in so many ways.Tony and I both became members in the late seventies and as it was my custom to always try to attend the Annual Meeting all seemed well when he was present. Above all I looked up to him and treasured a few words or a little sit down chat.
Many years ago we were both doing a workshop at Lambton College here in Sarnia and I asked if he would like to join my husband and I for supper at our home. He seemed tired and was probably thinking that he would just like to crash in his hotel room. However, as we travelled down the laneway and entered our driveway I will never forget his comment about our story and and a half woodland home. “Oh my gosh! This looks like a June Allison house." (who happened to be my favourite actress as a teen.) When Don offered him a G&T on the patio he seemed delighted, all weariness disappeared and we had a relaxed and pleasant evening. As I close, there are many short encounters that come to mind but, I can only say that I miss his being. I know how much he meant to Linda, who knew him best and has dedicated time to this project of remembrance.
Tony and Linda
Linda Kemp My introduction to the CSPWC, the Arts and Letters Club, and Tony all happened simultaneously, more than 35 years ago, when I first stepped into 14 Elm Street as a new member of the Society. Tony, the main speaker that day, was at the podium, recounting an outrageous and scandalous story that had the entire room roaring with laughter.
Tony was a brilliant storyteller. Many of his tales began with, “I shouldn’t say this…” or “Excuse my language, but…”—and what followed was always a fantastic, often saucy, anecdote or words that that might make the air turn blue. He was pure mischief, and dear Tony could get away with just about anything.
There was wine smuggled into a workshop at Neilson Park and shared generously from the bottle hidden in his pack. Or the episode involving a broken bed in a posh London hotel, an ashtray mysteriously lifted from the Ritz Carlton, his claim of a baby in our room and a wild story spun to secure two seats on a sold-out flight, for a “feeble senior and his nurse”.
We laughed a lot - until we gasped for air - and bonded over our shared love of art, ballet and the CSPWC. Tony was unfailingly generous—introducing me to his art galleries, connecting me with a wonderful agent, arranging for our booths to be side by side at events, and so much more.
Here are a few of Tony’s best tips to me:
For 23 years, we worked together on the CSPWC Royal Collection project. My commitment to seeing it through to completion stems from a promise I made to Tony. We shared a vision and I have tried to honour his legacy.
He always called me “Sweetie.” I miss him—his warmth, his generosity, and his very big laugh. For me, there is life before, during, and after Tony.
Bonnie Brooks The first time that I met Tony was at a watercolour symposium in Gananoque. I was not a member, at that time. It was over 25 years ago. There was this tall dark handsome man with a moustache standing at the front of the room of painters speaking. I am sure that I was not the only person in the room gob smacked by his presence.
A few years later, having become a member, I submitted a work for the queens royal collection. I had the painting matted, and our works had to be shipped for jurying...no on-line jurying back then. I received a phone call from Tony after shipping, to inform me that my matting proportions were incorrect. ( I had given my framer instructions of the correct size of the matting, but did not measure/double check before shipping it for jurying.)
Tony's phone call was to let me know of this matting error. I remember my feeling of frustration. However, Tony offered to have his gallery correctly remat my submission....and I would forward the payment for matting to his gallery. I will be forever grateful for him going out of his way to help me.
Weeks later, I picked up my phone: Another call from Tony Batten. He said "you have lost your painting". Well, I almost saw red, for about 3 seconds, until Tony clarified his comment by telling me that my work was accepted into the royal collection. Wow, Tony, you will always be in my heart. A great person, a great artist. Thank-you for allowing me to share my heart felt appreciation for Tony Batten
Edward Shawcross Trying to tell a single personal story about Tony Batten is difficult! His indomitable spirt & fervour for the CSPWC are legend. During my time serving the Society in many roles, Tony was always there to support, offer an historical perspective & to generally stir things up! However, one story that will remain with me always, is the first time I met that incomparable man.
It was at my first Annual General Meeting held that year at Nielson Park. After the official agenda was completed & I had just agreed to become involved with the CSPWC Executive Committee, I sat in absolute awe of the watercolour ‘giants’ who surrounded me.
As I sat there slightly dazzled, Tony approached me with his imposing height, reached out his hand & with that characteristic smile welcomed me aboard both as member & Executive member. I remember thanking him, then he leaned in & whispered with his wry smile & a wink “sucker!”. That was the beginning of a long & wonderfully warm friendship!
Bonnie Steinberg My memory of Tony is still quite vivid even after all this time. I had not yet met Tony, which first take places in 1998. There was a call for entry to the CSPWC, and through much encouragement, I was persuaded to enter. I wasn’t sure that I would even have a chance. I remember that Jack Reid told me that he did not get in initially. I decided to try in any case.
The morning of the jurying, I took all five paintings to the Heliconian Club. I first saw Tony there, with a big smile, and wished everyone luck. He was the president then. We were to drop the paintings off at 9 AM and then return at approx. 5 PM. The membership was to vote, and then there were comments by Tony, if memory serves. I went back to get the paintings, and heard Tony walking behind me, I heard” Congratulations” with several people walking by, and wondered who they were congratulating! When I turned around, I saw that it was Tony who was in fact congratulating me, along with the others who made it in. When I got to the Heliconian Club, Tony stood in the doorway, (he walked ahead) and then said to me: Congratulations! “You made it in…yes, there were some problems, but holy s##t, nobody uses colour like that..wow! They can only be you, and your expression of colour is amazing! I will never forget that! He and I crossed paths just a few times, and I regretfully did not know him long enough for his life was all too short . He always had an amusing story and a great smile. I will never forget this sense of humour,
Tony was the voice of laughter, of kindness, of vision and inspiration!! He is greatly missed!
E.J. Hunter About Tony ......I just can't say enough good things about him! Tony was a very skilled and important artist. He was also uniquely charming, sophisticated, and funny.
I always enjoyed my conversations with him so much! He was kind, generous and knowledgeable, and had a confident, enthusiastic philosophy of life: he believed that anything can be achieved if you try! He enjoyed seeing the accomplishments of others, as well as his own, and consequently brought the CSPWC works into the Royal Collection. Amazing.
(To Linda) Thank you again for all your work over the years.... with him and since he has been gone....Although he is probably still overseeing this current phase.......just in a different way!
David McEown It was tough not to be uplifted by Tony’s infectious talks and humour at many CSPWC events. His knowledge of watercolour and its history was so inspiring and gave watercolour a lot of credibility as an important medium of expression. He was also incredibly kind and encouraging when I was just starting to submit and get accepted into "Open Water Exhibitions" in the 1990s. I was moved and honoured that he took the time to mail me a handwritten note of congratulations on winning the A. J. Casson Award in 2005. It meant a lot to me at a time when it was easy to give up on the challenging medium. It’s great to see that his vision is being carried on by the completion of the CSPWC’s gift to the Royal Collection, which is a very prestigious body of watercolours.
Peter Marsh Anthony J. Batten, was a remarkable man of the first order, never failed to inspire. With his amazing wit and entertaining stories, many of which began with "I shouldn't really say this", Ha! Ha! Ha! as he always did, could transform a gathering in mere seconds. Apart from being tall, handsome and brilliant, he was remarkably generous and humble. There is not much time that goes by even now that memories of great chats come to mind.
It is my memory that he attended a pretty posh school when he was a kid. Christ's Hospital School had a Royal Charter and was founded in 1552, and in the tradition of English Grammar School education he studied there starting at the age of eleven. We talked about it sometimes through that commonality of somewhat meagre circumstances as a start in life, but I am sure his academic marks were always far above mine. Coming from that school it is little wonder that he had a soft spot for royalty, history, and constitutional behaviour. Any time we needed advice on how to address royalty officially, people knew to call Tony first.
Although the CSPWC's one hundred paintings donation to The Royal Collection Trust was a bit serendipitous, after reading a book on a flight to Australia, and having been turned down by the AGO and our National Gallery, Tony wouldn't have missed karma entering the game with the personal history of his youth. He conceived this collection and pursued it until his passing, but sincerely invited his very fine friend Linda Kemp to complete his vision, as he knew there would be no chance of failure in making this choice.
Tony's lifelong participation as a member of The Pords painting group (with tongue in cheek "Painters Of Remarkable Distinction") incurred many plein air roadways around the world, and serial exhibitions of renown. His architectural renderings, cityscapes, and especially those wonderful Toronto pieces , with at least one blotch of red, falling leaves, brilliant colour, snowstorms, and dashing brushstrokes, were indeed the envy of his fellow artists. He and his friend Robert travelled the world, which gave inspiration to many of his prize winning paintings and accolades at the annual juried CSPWC sponsored exhibition "Open Water".
The thing about Tony was he was a significant thinker. His ideas were a constant flow, and for just one example, they kept the watercolour Society in a healthy position even over the serious weak periods that befall any volunteer group.
Let's face it, Tony knew people. Endless numbers of people from all over the place. And the funny little asides that he recalled for each of them, in the hundreds, would always embellish any afternoon chat. So there was no hurry to get off the phone if Tony happened to call with a "I've been thinking about.....". You fill in the blanks, as I am sure he tested his thoughts on many others, and that is what made him a great leader and communicator. He had wonderful admiration for people like Ray and Madelaine Cattell, Jeanette Labelle, Mary Anne Ludlum, Neville Clarke, Margaret Squire, Marc Gagnon, Bill Rogers, Shirley Barry, Rayne Tunley, and many other names that we would only find now in our CSPWC archives. He was a "Life Member" of long standing, and President 1993-95. For many years he was our walking archives.
And now his treasured Royal Collection paintings have been gathered. I remember him telling the story of not knowing where to store the first section of those paintings years ago, so he stored them under his bed! He always thought that was hilarious, which when you think about it, it was, and I wonder if he told that to His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, when those artists attended the presentation of their paintings in the early nineties. He was very funny about "standing in the King's X#@%ing bathroom, admiring 16th century portraits". Ha!Ha! too funny for words and a good tale for one of his Avenue Road Penthouse Apartment cocktail parties. He did that. Held special parties for newly elected members of The Society, drinks all round, a historical photograph of all, a viewing of his art collection, a tour of his "kitchen studio" and his great friends Bill Kemp and Wayne Young to serve drinks. There he was, leaning on the mantelpiece, such an interesting raconteur. It was a Tony tradition.
My goodness, it really is too bad that Tony left early, way too early for all of us, but his legacy will be long and proud and considerable for many reasons. His final years were spent in part painting the interior of the parliament buildings in Ottawa, a first for any artist, with an exhibition of those paintings planned, and lastly a personal letter to Tony from the Chief Justice of The Supreme Court asking him to repeat his parliamentary feat at The Supreme Court Building. Although that dream was not realized it was a final accolade so rightly deserved. A pinnacled position reached over years of honest endeavour, lasting friendships, and remarkable accomplishments. Rest in Peace seems hardly enough to me.
