Sir William Nicholson 1872-1949

 

 

William Newzam Prior Nicholson was born 5 February 1872 at Newark-on-Trent. Educated at Magnus School, Newark, where he was taught drawing by William Cubley a pupil of Sir William Beechey. Studied at Hubert Herkomer's School at Bushey 1888–9, meeting James Pryde, and at the Académie Julian in Paris 1889–90. In 1893 he married Pryde's sister Mabel, also a painter With James Pryde designed posters under the name of ‘J. & W. Beggarstaff’ 1893- 1899;

 

Nicholson soon turned to the woodcut. A collaboration with publisher William Heinemann was to prove the turning point in Nicholson’s career as a printmaker and key series of Woodcuts including An Alphabet 1898, An Almanac of Twelve Sports 1897 London Types 1898, and Twelve Portraits 1899/1902.

 

 

Designed sets for Peter Pan 1904 and for other plays. Foundation member of the Society of Twelve 1904. Exhibited at the International Society from 1898, member 1906; foundation member of the National Portrait Society 1911. First one-man exhibition at the Paterson Gallery 1906. Retrospective exhibitions at Nottingham and the Beaux Arts Gallery 1933, Belfast 1934, and the National Gallery 1942. Trustee of the Tate Gallery 1934–9. Knighted 1936. Died 16 May 1949 at Blewbury, Berkshire.

Father of Ben Nicholson