Henry Dawson
(1811-1878)
Henry Thomas Dawson was a marine and landscape painter. He was born in Hull, lived in Nottingham until 1844 when he moved to Liverpool. In 1850 he moved to London. In 1858 he moved to Thorpe Green near Chertsey in Surrey. Dawson studied with J.B. Pyne, but was mainly self taught, the vibrant light in his paintings have been compared with that of JMW Turner. He exhibited at the Liverpool Academy and elected an associate in 1846 and a Member in 1847. He exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1838 to 1874. He also exhibited at the British Institute, Suffolk Street and the Portland Gallery. He was not popular with the RA Hanging Committee. Dawson’s pictures were mostly marine and coastal subjects, but he also painted landscapes many of the River Thames around Windsor and Runnymede also some very large views of London. During his lifetime Henry’s work was only really appreciated by fellow artists and a few art collectors. In 1878, just before his in death in Chiswick, a collection of Henry’s work was displayed at the Nottingham Exhibition. This served to raise his profile as a landscape artist. Henry was born in Hull but when he was very young his parents moved to Nottingham. His family was poor and he worked in a lace factory. He painted whilst working in the factory and only had a few drawing lessons.