The Painting
A pen, ink and watercolour measuring 19" x 15". Signed Nina Carroll and inscribed
‘Bugle / March 26th 1975’.
About the Artist
Nina Carroll (1932-1990) was a designer of murals, an illustrator of children’s books
and a watercolour artist. She studied at Cheltenham School of Art and at the Ruskin
School, Oxford. She lived in Kettering and later in Oxford. Her husband, John Steane,
was headmaster of Kettering Grammar School in 1964 to 1976. Both Nina and her husband
were founder members of the Kettering Civic Society, and John became their first
Secretary. She exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of Watercolour Painters,
the Society of Women Artists and the New England Art Club. Her works are in the collection
of the Guildhall Museum, Northampton and the Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering,
amongst others.
The Subject
Bugle. The Common Bugle (Ajuga Reptans) is an herbaceous flowering plant native to
Europe. It has dark green leaves with purple highlights, and is a spreading ground
cover that grows in a dense mat. In the spring it sends up 4-6 inch tall flower stalks
with many purple flowers on them.
