Winifred Nicholson

1893 - 1981

Quick Facts

  • Nationality: United Kingdom
  • Copyright status: Under copyright
  • Also known as:
    • Mrs. Nicholson
    • Winifred Roberts
    • Miss Winifred Roberts
    • Winifred Dacre
    • Rosa Winifred Nicholson
  • Died: 1981
  • Art period: Modern
  • Lifespan: 88 years

A Life in Color and Landscape

Born in Oxford, United Kingdom, Winifred Nicholson was a painter who began her artistic journey as a teenager under the guidance of her grandfather, George Howard. Her formal training took place at the Byam Shaw School of Art in London, where she studied before and after the outbreak of the First World War. Her life was marked by significant travels, including a journey with her father to Burma, Ceylon, and India in 1919. In 1920, she married the artist Ben Nicholson, and the couple spent time in Switzerland at the Villa Capriccio near Lake Lugano before settling at Bankshead, a farmhouse in Cumberland near Brampton.

Nicholson's personal life was deeply intertwined with the art world; she was the daughter-in-law of the painter William Nicholson and the mother of the painter Kate Nicholson. Following her separation from Ben Nicholson, she moved to Paris in 1932, where she developed friendships with various modernist and abstract artists. She eventually returned to the United Kingdom, passing away in Cumbria.

Artistic Focus and Legacy

The body of work produced by Winifred Nicholson is characterized by a focus on specific subjects:

Her paintings have been featured in significant exhibitions at the Tate Gallery, the Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Kettle's Yard, and the Dean Gallery. One notable work, St Ives' Harbour, a 1928 oil and coloured pencil on panel, was part of the collection of David Bowie.

Questions & Answers

In which historical period did Winifred Nicholson work?

Winifred Nicholson worked in the Modern period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

Can I visit a virtual museum of Winifred Nicholson's works?

Winifred Nicholson's artworks can be seen in a 3D gallery on the artist's 3D Museum page.

Where are Winifred Nicholson's artworks mapped by subject?

The Subject Atlas of Winifred Nicholson is a page that maps the artist's artworks by their subjects.

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
Where was Winifred Nicholson born?
Question 2:
Who was Winifred Nicholson's husband?
Question 3:
In which city did Winifred Nicholson live with her three children starting in 1932?
Question 4:
Which famous pop star previously owned Nicholson's work 'St Ives' Harbour'?
Question 5:
What type of subjects did Nicholson mostly paint?