Dorothy Nicholson

Epithet: Artist

Record type: Biographies

Biography: The artist Dorothy Nicholson (nee Templeton) taught art in local Manx schools and by marriage was part of the famous Nicholson Manx artistic dynasty. She was at one time married to John H. Nicholson. Very few examples of her art survive.

'Señorita ‘S’', a painting of John H. Nicholson’s, is thought to be a portrait of Dorothy. It was painted in 1936 at the height of the surrealist and symbolist movements when art could be figurative but also deeply imbued with meaning. 1936 also saw the start of the Spanish Civil War, a conflict which stimulated an artistic and literary response from across Europe as people either went to fight in Spain or reflected their feelings about the conflict in their work. The portrait, which appears conventional now, may have been far more emotive when it was first exhibited in London in the late 1930s.

In 2020, a nativity mural named ‘The Adoration of Magi’, which is attributed to Dorothy, was moved into the lobby at St. George's Church, Douglas - after being housed for more than half a century at All Saints’ Church, Douglas, which was due to close. Here, this significant piece of artwork is admired by local Sunday School children when they meet for their Sunday activities. Visitors can view Dorothy’s work at the Church.

Gender: Female

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