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Impressionist & Modern Art
3260 JAMES DIXON(1887 Tory Island 1970)
Fishing from the Rocks on Tory Island. 18
October 1964.
Oil on paper.
Titled, signed and dated upper right:
Fishing from the Rocks on Tory Island by
James Dixon 18.10.1964.
56 x 37 cm.
Provenance: Private collection, Swit-
zerland, bought in a gallery in London
1966/67.
The artist, seaman and fisherman James
Dixon came from a small, isolated island in
the North Atlantic named Tory Island. Born
as half native islander and half Irish main-
lander, he spent his entire life on the island
as one of nearly 150 permanent residents.
Dixon came into contact with art through
the artist Derek Hill, who arrived on the
island as a visitor and with whom a deep
friendship developed over time. James
Dixon only began to dedicate himself to
his artistic practice at an advanced age,
a fact which makes his paintings all the
more interesting. Dixon’s works reflect his
life on Tory Island – the everyday life as an
islander and fisherman. The ocean, the
raging waves and the imposing cliffs play a
central role in his paintings. His works are
often infused with a narrative humour and
an abstract naiveté, as seen in the present
work, which shows fishermen fishing on
a cliff. His play of various perspectives
and his unique application of the paint (he
used brushes made from the hair of his
donkey's tail) provide an insight into the
reason Dixon's art also extends beyond
the borders of Tory Island.
CHF 1 000 / 2 000
(€ 890 / 1 790)