The Four Artists of Hespeler

By Paul Langan

Now part of Cambridge, Ontario, the village of Hespeler has produced some amazing artists. Renowned Canadian painter Frank Panabaker is well-known to art fans. He was born in Hespeler and started his long career there.

Less known is the work of Vera Rosenberger. She was a teacher for over 40 years and retired in 1960. People still remember the elaborate works of art she effortlessly drew on the chalkboard.

Shirley (Cox) Brent, was the first artist to capture the essence of the community of her beloved hometown Hespeler.

Debbie Ellis, continues today in the spirit of Shirley and Vera, prolifically producing drawings and paintings of Hespeler and the surrounding area.

For the first time, these four artists' biographies and a selection of their works are brought together in this book..

• Language: English
• Publisher: Paul Langan
• Release date: Dec 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9781998829286

Book preview

The Four Artists

of Hespeler

A painting of children playing in the snow Description automatically generated

Hespeler Public School in the 1930s-40s – Shirley (Cox) Brent, Linda Inglis collection

Paul Langan

ISBN 978-1-998829-28 -6

Paul Langan

Copyright 2023 

[e-mail]

paullangan.com

DEDICATION

I would like to dedicate this book to Shirley (Cox) Brent, a Hespeler artist  who passed on in October 2023. Her art captured the essence of the community she loved.

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Iwould like to thank the following people that made this booklet become a reality.

Frank Panabaker Chapter: Frances & Katherine Schwenger, Lusher Gallery NYC,

Vera Rosenberger Chapter – Sam Inglis.

Shirley (Cox) Brent Chapter – Shirley, Sue, and Nancy Brent.

Debbie Ellis Chapter – Debbie Ellis

Please note, any future use of photos or text in this booklet must be approved by the author.

1. INTRODUCTION

Ihad been thinking about this topic for several years but wondered if I could get enough history on all 4 artists.

Researching the Panabaker family for another book, led me to meeting Frank Panabaker’s daughter Frances. That afternoon we spent going back through their history was instrumental in the Frank Panabaker section of the book.

I had Shirley (Cox) Brent’s art hanging in my house for over twenty years. I was aware of her contribution to preserving Hespeler’s past through her paintings. Connecting with her daughters, Sue, and Nancy, allowed me to gather Shirley’s history and photos of her paintings.

Vera Rosenberger’s name had come up several times when researching by book, Hespeler History: The Authorized Winfield Brewster Collection. I lucked out when visiting long-time resident Sam Inglis. Vera took a liking to his family and sent Sam many drawings she had done of Hespeler and abroad. They form the basis of Vera’s chapter.

Debbie Ellis is a current prolific artist in the community who supported this booklet by providing examples of her work and her biography.

Paul Langan

September 29th, 2023

Hespeler, Ontario, Canada

2. Early Hespeler Artists

Wilfred Brewster’s booklets written in the 1950s about the early history of Hespeler gives us the following limited information on the early painters of Hespeler.

In the past at least two artists whose medium was oil.

A man named Wall had a studio in the John Henry Building, torn when the block was built. Another, an English gentleman named Seymour stayed a year or two and did some splendid work; in addition, he was an artist at casting a fly for Bass, as those boys who from time to time rowed his boat, probably will recall.

During the Ministry of the Methodist Church here of the Reverend Dr. George H. Cornish, his daughter, Miss Louise, gave lessons in painting to a considerable number of students.

In 1922 and 1923 McGillivray Knowles, R.C.A., (Elora, Ontario) held classes in Hespeler in landscape painting. Frank Panabaker began his career taking lessons from McGillivray.

Homer Watson, (Doon, Ontario) renown Canadian landscape painter was an inspiration to both Vera Rosenberger and Frank Panabaker.

Sarah Brewster Painting Found

In October 2023, while completing this book, I became aware of