Charles Edward Dixon, R.I.

Biography

Charles Edward Dixon was a painter of river, coastal and marine subjects in oil and watercolour. He was the son of the genre and historical painter, Alfred Dixon.

Charles first exhibited at the Royal Academy at the age of 16 before he became a regular contributor to the Illustrated London News, the Graphic and the Sphere. Because he happened to be the friend of Sir Thomas Lipton, whose grocery stores were so much a part of the English scene at one time, he was allowed to travel with him on each of the five Shamrock boats that Lipton entered for the America’s Cup races.

Dixon also exhibited at the New Watercolour Society and various other venues and was elected R.I. in 1900.

Some of Dixon’s paintings bear some resemblance to the work of William Wyllie. Dixon’s draughtsmanship is accurate and he was a worthy practitioner of maritime painting.

He is best known for his port scenes, especially on the Thames. Dixon was a keen yachtsman and lived at Itchenor on the Sussex coast.