biography

Born 1957
Apprentice Shipwright 1972 - 76
Colchester School of Art 1976 - 77
Chelsea School of Art 1977 - 80
Royal College of Art 1981 - 84

James Dodds was born in the east coast fishing town of Brightlingsea, and trained as a shipwright in Maldon. He then studied painting at Chelsea and the Royal College of Art, London. He has also conceived, illustrated and hand-produced a series of artists books.

Previous venues:
May - June 10: Buckenham Galleries, Southwold
December 09: Messum's Fine Art, Cork Street
September - October 09: Bircham Gallery, Holt
February - March 09: Messum's Fine Art, Cork Street
July - August 08:
Salthouse 08, Norfolk
April -
May 08: Haylett's Gallery, Maldon
November 2007: Messum's Fine Art, Cork Street
July 2007:
Essex University Gallery
Feb - March 2006:
Messum's Fine Art, Cork Street
June - Sept 2005:
Hartlepool Art Gallery
Jan - April 2005:
Time & Tide, Great Yarmouth
Octr - Nov 2004:
Messum's Fine Art, Cork Street
Nov 2003 - April 2004:National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Feb - Mar 2003:National Maritime Museum of Cornwall
Dec - Jan 2003:Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Durham
Nov - Dec 2002: Quay Art Centre, Isle of Wight
Sep - Oct 2002:
Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset
Aug - Sep 2002: Herne Bay Museum & Art Gallery, Kent
Aug - Oct 2002: Whitstable Museum & Art Gallery, Kent
Nov 2001 - Feb 2002: firstsite @ The Minories, Colchester

James regularly exhibits at Messum's Fine Art, Cork St, London,
Hayletts Gallery Maldon, Northouse Gallery, and
Bircham Contemporary Arts.


He had a major retrospective show, "Shipshape", at firstsite at The Minories in Colchester in November 2001. This show subsequently toured at Whitstable, Herne Bay, Frome,
the Isle of Wight, Barnard Castle, the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall, the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich. Great Yarmouth and Hartlepool.

His work has been purchased by
Britten-Pears Library, Aldeburgh; Victoria and Albert Museum; Clacton & Rochford Hospitals; Chelmsford and Essex Museums; Ipswich Borough Council, Museums and Galleries; Colchester Borough Council; Horniman Museum, London and many private collectors.

There are also plans for a book written by the well known English art critic, broadcaster and journalist Ian Collins who has published extensively on English East Coast painters

 
 

In July 2007 James was very pleased to accept the offer of an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex in recognition of his "distinguished contribution to the local community as an artist and defender of our community and natural heritage."

Further Reading
(click on date):


Bill Mayher (2008)
Adam Nicolson (2007)
Ian Collins
1(2001) , 2(2004), 3(2007)

William Packer (2005)
Elly Robinson 1
(1998), 2(2001)
Thomas Puttfarken 1(2000), 2(2001)
Nic Compton (1999)
Frank Whitford (2001)
Ronald Blythe (2001)
Guardian Review (2001)
"Shipshape" poem by Martin Newell (2001)
"Shipshape 2" by Martin Newell (2003)