About

For James’ linocuts and books see Jardine Press website.
For paintings, please make all enquiries to:

1957  Born in Brightlingsea
1972 – 76  Apprentice Shipwright in Maldon
1976 – 77  Colchester School of Art
1977 – 80  Chelsea School of Art
1981 – 84  Royal College of Art
1984  Started Jardine Press, Stoke by Nayland
2007  Received Doctorate from University of Essex
2016  Awarded John Nash medal from Colchester Art Society

Chelsea 1980

Drawing out Grey Boat 2001

Colchester Art Society award 2016

Dr Dodds 2007

Yellow Boat on Bryher

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 College of art and the Royal College of Art, London. He is also a printmaker and has conceived, illustrated and hand-produced a series of artists books (see Jardine Press website for prints and books).

James regularly exhibits in London, Maldon, Manningtree, Norfolk and Maine USA.

 In 2001 he had a major retrospective show, “Shipshape”, at Firstsite at The Minories in Colchester. The show subsequently toured 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. 

In 2015 he returned to Firstsite in its new building in Colchester with another substantial exhibition, “Wood to Water”. In 2019 he took “Wood to Water” to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, this time depicting Cornish boats.

His work has been purchased by the Britten-Pears Library, Aldeburgh; Victoria & Albert Museum; Clacton & Rochford Hospitals; Chelmsford and Essex Museums; Ipswich Borough Council, Museums and Galleries; Colchester Borough Council; UCS East Contemporary Art Collection, Ipswich; MMoFA, Madison, Georgia, USA; Horniman Museum, London; Fred Olsen; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, Paget, Bermuda; The Sainsbury Centre, UEA, Norwich; The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation collection, and many private collectors.

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.”

In 2016 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Colchester Art Society, a special anniversary medal designed by the sculptor, John Doubleday, was awarded to James Dodds for his outstanding contribution to the visual arts.

Selected Solo Exhibitions
1983: “Icarus”, Minories, Colchester
1984, 1995, 1998, 2000:  Aldeburgh Festival
1985:  “Ship of Fools”, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
1986:  “Fish, Flesh or Fowl”, Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich
1989, 1990, 1995, 1997:  Printworks, Colchester
1989, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2009, 2014, 2018:  Bircham Contemporary Arts, Norfolk
1990, 1994, 2005:  Chapel Galleries, Essex
1992:  Sue Rankin Gallery, London (2-man show with John Bratby RA)
2001:  North House Gallery, Manningtree, (2-man show with John Reay)
2001, 2007:  Art Exchange, Essex University Gallery
2001:  “Shipshape”, Firstsite at The Minories, Colchester
                    “Shipshape” tour:
                      2002:  Whitstable & Hearne Bay Museums & Art Galleries, Kent
                                    Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset
                                    Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
                                    Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham
                    2003:  National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
                    2004:  National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
                      2005:  Time & Tide, Great Yarmouth
                                    Buckenham Gallery, Southwold
                                    Hartlepool Art Gallery, Hartlepool
                                    Thurso & Wick, Scotland
                                    Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn Arts Centre, King’s Lynn
2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020:  Messum’s, Cork Street London
2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020: Hayletts Gallery, Maldon
2008: “Salthouse 08: Seahouse, Lighthouse, Spirithouse”, Salthouse, Norfolk (mixed show)
2010, 2012, 2017:  Dowling Walsh Gallery, Rockland, Maine. USA
2013:  “Masterpieces, Art and East Anglia” Sainsbury Centre, UEA Norwich (mixed show)
2015:  “Wood to Water” Firstsite, Colchester
2019-20:  “Wood to Water” National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
2020:  “The Work of Human Hands” Messum’s, Wiltshire
2021:  “The Blue Boat” Messum’s, St James, London
2021:  “Wood to Water” National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
2021:  “Shaped by the Sea” The Corn Hall, Diss
2022:  Retrospective show, Yare Gallery, Great Yarmouth
2022-23:  “Rivages” Musée des Arts et Métiers du Livre, Montolieu, France