Reginald Otto Bell 1886 - 1950

Stained glass artist, the only son of John Clement Bell and his wife Mary, his sister being the sculptor Jane/Jeanne Bell. He was born in London and educated at Harrow School and Cope's and Nichols' Art School, Kensington, and joined the family firm of Clayton & Bell, makers of stained glass and ecclesiastical furnishings, in 1907. He served in the Artists' Rifles in World War I and on returning to the studios in 1918 was made a partner. Reginald was keen to abandon the Victorian style and adopt more modern designs. As a member of the Arts Club and Art Workers' Guild he had many artist and architect friends, including S J Lamorna Birch, William Russell Flint and William Orpen. Bell was a founder-member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters and for many years its secretary. His windows in the south transept of Salisbury Cathedral, St Mary's Hall in Coventry and in the chapel of Somerville College, Oxford, are especially distinguished. He received world recognition in 1925 when he was awarded a diploma at the Paris Exhibition and at exhibitions in Brazil and at Wembley. Exhibited frequently at the RA, also at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. After he died at Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, his son Michael Charles Farrer Bell continued his work.