Kenneth Reed 1941 – 2024

Kenneth Reed was one of the most acclaimed golf artists of his time, capturing the beauty and heritage of the world’s greatest courses with his distinctive style.

My father was a huge influence on my own career as an artist. We both went to the same Art College in Newcastle studying Art & Design and we both went self employed as artists.

After studying art and design at Rutherford College my father went on to become a graphic designer throughout the 1960’s. He then lectured at Cleveland College of Art in the 1970’s until he took early retirement from teaching in his mid 50’s. His focus for the next twenty years became the numerous golf commissions for major golf clubs, competitions and for some of the world’s top golfers.

His work has been commissioned by golfing legends such as Gary Player, Greg Norman, Bob Charles, and Tom Weiskopf, and his paintings are proudly displayed in The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the USGA, and historic clubhouses like Augusta, Pinehurst, Sunningdale, and Royal Troon.

His ability to translate the atmosphere of these iconic landscapes onto canvas made his work highly sought after by collectors, golf enthusiasts, and clubs around the world.  

Now, a limited collection of Ken Reed’s original paintings and fine art prints is available for purchase from my website. These pieces reflect his passion for both golf and fine art, from his atmospheric watercolours of famous courses to his striking Art Deco-inspired tournament posters.

Due to his passing in late 2024, no further editions will be produced, making these works an exclusive opportunity to own a signed piece of golfing history.

Browse the collection of original paintings and limited prints below and bring the beauty of the game into your home or office.

Golf Paintings of the World’s Great Courses

Ken Reed’s golf paintings cover many of the most famous names in the game. The collection available here includes Scottish links such as the Ailsa Course at Turnberry, the West Links at North Berwick, Gullane No 1, Western Gailes, Loch Lomond and St Andrews, together with the King’s, Queen’s and Monarch’s courses at Gleneagles. Further afield there are paintings of the Red Bud 16th hole at Augusta, Ballybunion, Shinnecock and Yale, and closer to home Matfen Hall in Northumberland.

Championship posters and tournament art

Alongside his golf paintings of individual holes, Ken produced striking Art Deco inspired posters for major tournaments. Pieces in the collection mark the 1997 Open at Troon, the 1998 Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, the 124th, 125th and 129th Open Championships, Royal St George’s in 2011, the 1996 and 1998 US Opens, the 1997 US Women’s Open and the 1995 centennial at Shinnecock. Many golfers buy these as a reminder of a championship they attended or a course they have played, and they make memorable gifts for golf club members and collectors alike.

Originals, prints and canvas

Ken Reed’s golf paintings are offered in several formats. Original golf paintings include watercolours and gouache, and selected scenes such as Turnberry and the Red Bud 16th hole at Augusta are also available as canvas prints. Fine art prints and posters give you the chance to own one of Ken’s best known images at a more accessible price.

His golf paintings hang in The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, home of The R&A, as well as the USGA and clubhouses including Augusta, Pinehurst, Sunningdale and Royal Troon. Because no further editions will be produced, the golf paintings and prints shown below are a limited opportunity to own a part of Ken Reed’s legacy.

Collecting golf paintings

For many collectors, golf paintings are about memory as much as art: the course where you played your best round, the championship you travelled to watch, or the clubhouse you have belonged to for years. Ken’s eye for the shape of a fairway, the light over the dunes and the drama of a final green means his golf paintings capture those memories in a way a photograph rarely does.

A family of artists

Ken’s influence lives on in the work of his son, Alan Reed, who studied art and design in Newcastle like his father and has specialised in watercolour for over 40 years. You can explore Alan’s own original paintings of Newcastle, Northumberland, Scotland and Italy, or visit the Alan Reed Studio and Gallery in Ponteland by appointment on 01661 820626.