Dawn Cookson (1925-2005) - Watercolour Embroiderers at Machico, Madeira

Description

This delightful watercolour scene depicts a group of women embroidering linen. They sit on soft green grass under the blue Madeira sky. The artist captured the scene in charming detail, conveying the group's soft gestures and delicate lines in fine brush strokes. Signed and titled to the lower right. Information on the artist attached to the reverse. On wove.

Condition

In fine condition.

Size

32.5 x 48cm (12.8" x 18.9")
Framed Size: 52.5 x 65.7cm (20.7" x 25.9")

Artist Biography

Auction and biographical information attached to the reverse of the painting reads: I hope that those fortunate enough to acquire any of these fine examples from the studio at Quiet Place, Broadway, the home of this well-known Broadway painter for over 30 years will enjoy these paintings just as we were privileged to enjoy the company of this talented lady. Professional painter foremost but also an accomplished linguist and delightful raconteur with numerous stories of her artistic
endeavours in Europe and America that were always
witty and charmingly self-deprecating.

Born in Edgbaston on 11th June 1925, she was educated
at Westonbirt before studying at the Birmingham College of Art, after which she became a consultant designer and part-time art teacher. Then in 1956 forsaking any security of income, she left for her inspirational home of Italy and enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Perugia after a meeting with Pietro Annigoni in London, the most famous portrait painter of the day. After two years of hard work in Perugia, Annigoni impressed with Dawn’s artistic progress invited her to work as a pupil and assistant in his studio in Florence. (see Painting with Annigoni by Dawn Cookson)
Her career flourished, dividing her time between numerous commissions at home (notably attending Buckingham Palace in 1991 to paint a portrait of The Princess Royal), in Europe and in the U.S.A. and later in life as arthritis slowed down her efforts in the studio, giving her time voluntarily teaching and speaking on painting.
Throughout her time at Broadway, Dawn exhibited
locally, including the sale venue at the Lygon Arms and
at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists, she enjoyed
not only displaying her portraiture mastery but also the
less formal side of her talents including landscapes and
still-lifes - all aspects of which are represented in the sale.
Dawn Cookson died in Broadway, 7th April 2005.