Doyly John » D'Oyly - John

CECIL ROCHFORT D’OYLY-JOHN 1906-1993

D’Oyly John (as everyone called him) was born in

South Africa in 1906 and was brought up in Durban. On leaving school joined the Asiatic Petroleum Company, traveling

extensively throughout the Far East. From 1930-1934 he worked in the Tanganyika Police Force rising from Inspector to Public

Prosecutor. Later he joined the Texas Oil Company in South Africa.

There are many stories, probably apocryphal, about his

early life. Amongst them are that he was the illegitimate son of Augustus John, that he worked on a Japanese tramp steamer,

that he was a life saver in Colombo and a pearl fisher in Manila and even that he did “a bit of hush-hush gun running!

At the

outbreak of the Second World War, D’OYLY-JOHN took a commission in the Provost Corps and during the 1945 campaign was wounded

and temporarily blinded as a result of being blown up by a bomb. It was during the period of convalescence that he was

encouraged to take up painting as a pastime by his friend, the artist and teacher, Edmund Fearnley-Whittingstall. He was also

influenced by the Nice artist Paul Negeli as well as a Belgian artist who used his palette knife to paint. He soon proved

himself to be a natural artist of uncommon genius.

D’OYLY-JOHN was one of the most successful and brilliant (in both senses

of the word) artists of his time. What is his genius and colour sense? It defies explanation, other than that it reflected his

personality. He used his genius and colour sense with equanimity in everything he painted. Subjects are made up of several

different colours, although to us it may seem to be of one shade or tone, and in this you will realise the brilliance of D’

OYLY-JOHN’s technique.

In the 1950s and 1960s, his works were sold in print form by one of the major publishers of that time,

and thus his work became universally known and popular .For a while, he lived in Cannes and in 1965 he held a hugely successful

exhibition in Bognor Regis when many of the major dealers in the country (for example Stacey Marks, Aldridges, Frost and Reed)

bought his works

A number of his paintings were acquired by the Queen Mother (when she was Queen) for the Royal collection

and his work is to be seen in other notable collections throughout the world.

D’OYLY-JOHN lived in Rottingdean, near

Brighton, and travelled extensively throughout Europe in search of new subjects to glorify his canvases. His paintings have

been available since about 1980 through StewArt Gallery. He suffered a stroke in 1987, and did not really produce any works

after that date. He now rests in St Margaret’s Churchyard.

A Continental Village Oil on canvas 45x65cm, another of the artist's early works. There has been a professional but tiny repair done in the past, not visible from the front. In good order. The frame is original and in good order for it's age if a little boring!

Flower Seller by Fountain A good and rare example of one of the artists large size paintings. Oil on canvas 20"x30", signed and framed. Painted in 1984 and originally sold by us then. All in excellent order except the signature which has partly faded. (D'Oyly John often signed his name in marker pen!)

Menton One of Doyly John's early works with a Stacey-Marks label on the back dated 1955.The painting is in good order except for 2 very small cracks (image available on request) on the lower left. The Frame is original and although not in perfect order, is acceptable.Picture size is 45x65cm.

Portofino Oil on canvas 14" x 28", signed and NEWLY framed. Titled verso albeit possibly not by the artist.

The Costa Brava Fully titled by the artist on the back "Along the Spanish coast on the Costa Brava, Spain." In lovely condition, but you may like to replace the frame which is original. Size is 35x70cm. Images of Inscription and 2 labels verso available on request.