Leonard Applebee was born in Fulham, London in 1914: he worked as a painter, print-maker, verse writer and teacher and it is mainly known for his paintings of still life, landscapes and occasional portraits.
 
He studied at Goldsmiths’ College of Art and at the Royal College of Art between 1931 and 1938. His first solo show was organized in 1948 at the Leicester galleries and was followed by several exhibitions at RA, RSA, Arts Councils, British Council, Wildenstein, Fine Art Society and City Museum and Art Gallery in Plymouth.
 
Appelbee was an excellent portrait painter and received commissions by eminent clients including Eton College and Corpus Christi College in Cambridge. Moreover he was awarded with a silver medal in 1970 at Paris Salon and published in 1980 a book of verse.
 
Reference Bibliography:
Buckman D., 2006, Artists in Britain since 1945, Vol 1, Art Dictionaries Ltd, Bristol