"Another contibutor to the article(cant remember who) picked out Ray Davies of the Kinks as the example of Englishness(Waterloo Sunset the specific song). Totally agree with that, though I think Dediocated Follower of Fashion would be my choice. He was a definitve chronicler of Enmgland(well, London, anway).
Maybe Oasis for the northwest?"

Don't forget We Are the Village Green Preservation Society. I think the quintessencial English artist was Vivian Stanshall.