Biography
Born in 1926, Robert Dawson early-developed a fascination and talent for art which led to him being offered a scholarship to Stoke-on-Trent College of Art at 17. After a hiatus as a solicitor’s clerk, Dawson studied English and Art at Clarendon College in Nottingham, thence becoming a primary school teacher whilst continuing to pursue his love of painting in his spare time. This passion led to him becoming a member of the Staffordshire Society of Artists and being the focal point of a number of exhibitions. This culminated in Dawson winning the Holbrook Prize at Nottingham Castle Museum in 1973, and again in 1974.
Robert Dawson died in 1997, leaving a substantial body of work and a lasting impression on his peers, being known for the personal and intimate nature of his artwork.
Sir Kyffin Williams, RA, was an admirer of Robert Dawson’s work, and was quoted as stating in interview in 2000:
“Robert Dawson was always one of the quiet men of art, a man of great modesty. Unlike so many of the younger artists today, he did not aspire to fame or artistic acclaim but quietly contented himself with wring out his own problems in his own honest way.
Because he painted what he loved he was able to communicate that love to others. For this reason, I believe, his work will always be appreciated long after so much of the facile creations produced today have been forgotten."