Arthur Augustus Dixon (8 May 1872 – 1959) was an English artist and illustrator who produced illustrations for authors such as Angela Brazil, Elsie J. Oxenham and Bessie Marchant. [1]
Arthur was born and raised in St Pancras, London by his father, Richard Dixon, a grainer, and his mother Rosa. In 1887 his father passed away and Rosa moved with Arthur and his two brothers, Frederick and Herbert to Islington. [1]
In 1899, Arthur married Cecil Elsie Soweby in Steyning and together they had one daughter born a year later. [1] The two settled in Berkhamsted until Arthur Dixon passed away in 1959. [1] [2]
Arthur was a prolific illustrator in his time and made illustrations for reprints of around thirty-five classic works by Charles Dickens, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Charles Kingsley, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Gaskell and Washington Irving . [3] [1] [2] The style he employs has been termed 'neo-Pre-Raphaelite' which was indicative of his peers such as Byam Shaw or Eleanor Fortescue-Brickdale. [2]
He also exhibited paintings and drawings at such venues as Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Artists, as well as the New Gallery. [2]
Source: [4]
One of his illustrations was sold at Christie's for £7,170 in 2003. [5]
Dixon was characterised by the Dictionary of British Book Illustrators as 'generally competent' and 'conventional and prosaic with sentimental overtones'. [1] [6]