Biographies

(George) Gardner Symons (1863 – 1930) Born in Chicago, Symons first studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago before travelling to Paris, London and Munich for further training. Upon his returnto the U. S., he worked as a commercial artist while he painted in his spare time with his friend and fellow artist William Wendt. After a brief visit to California in the early 1880s, Symons persuaded Wendt to accompany him to Laguna Beach in 1896. In 1898, the two friends visited England and in 1903, Symons returned to Laguna Beach to become an active member of the art community. For a long time, Symons kept a studio in New York City and another in the Berkshires as well as the one in Laguna Beach. In 1909, Symons won the Carnegie Prize at the National Academy. The Evans Prize came to him in 1910 and in 1911 he was elected to membership in the National Academy. In 1914, he was commissioned by the Santa Fe Railroad to paint several views of the Grand Canyon to be used in advertising and promotion, but he is best known for his snow scenes of the Berkshires. He exhibited in both England and America and travelled widely.