back@using System.Web;

Thomas Cantrell Dugdale

(1880 - 1952)

Born in Blackburn, 2nd June 1880.

Died in London, 13th November 1952.


Thomas Cantrell Dugdale was born in Blackburn, Lancashire in 1880. He was educated at Manchester Grammar School before enrolling at the Manchester School of Art. He furthered his studies at the Royal College of Art in London, as well as the Academie Julien and Academie Colarossi in Paris.

In 1910 Dugdale joined the Middlesex Yeomanry and fought throughout World War I in Eygpt, Palestine and Gallipoli. He continued to paint during active service with four views of the Middle-East acquired by the War Memorials Commission. In 1916 he married fellow artist Amy Katherine Browning whom he had first met at the Royal College of Art.

After the war Dugdale painted full-time, holding an exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in 1919. He exhibited at the Royal Academy for the first time in 1901 and continued to do so until his death in 1952. Princess Margaret, Prime Minister Herbert Asquith, Vivien Leigh and Sir William Nicholson were amongst the numerous high-profile figures who sat for him. He also designed various book covers and advised the textile firm Tootal Broadhurst Lee, based in Manchester.

By the outbreak of World War II, Dugdale was living in Suffolk where he formed a unit of the Home Guard. During the conflict he was commissioned to paint numerous servicemen including Field-Marshall William Slim KG, DSO, MC, Air Vice-Marshal Ronald Graham CB, CBE, DSO and Air Commandant Dame Helen Gwynne-Vaughan. He was elected a full member of the Royal Academy in 1943.

His works can be found in museums in: London, Imperial War Museum, Government Art Collection, National Portrait Gallery; Manchester Art Gallery; Blackburn Museum & Art Gallery; Royal Air Force Museum; Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum; Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture.