Dod Procter

Early Life and Education

• Born: Doris Margaret Shaw, 21 April 1890, Hampstead, United Kingdom
• Died: 31 July 1972
• Nationality: English
• Her father was a ship's doctor and her mother a former art student.
• The family moved to Tavistock, Cornwall in 1907.
• She enrolled at the School of Painting run by Elizabeth Forbes and Stanhope Forbes in Newlyn at age 15.
• Met Laura Knight, who became a lifelong friend and influence.
• Studied at Atelier Colarossi in Paris alongside Ernest Procter.

Artistic Development and Influences

• Influenced by Impressionism and Post-Impressionism movements.
• Mentored by Elizabeth Forbes and Stanhope Forbes.
• Inspired by artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne.
• Developed a distinctive style characterized by sensual portraits of women and Cornish landscapes.
• Early works included illustrated "Nature Notes" sent to her father at sea.

Major Works and Achievements

• Morning (1927): Her most famous work, a portrait of a fisherman's daughter that caused a sensation and was bought by the Daily Mail for the Tate Gallery.
• Early Morning: A smaller version of "Morning" held by the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.
• Series of simplified, monumental images of young women (c. 1922).
• Commissioned to decorate the Kokine Palace in Rangoon with her husband Ernest Procter.
• Exhibited at the Royal Academy on numerous occasions.
• Awarded "Picture of the Year" at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition in 1927 for “Morning”.

Later Life and Legacy

• After Ernest's death in 1935, she travelled extensively to the United States, Canada, Jamaica, and Africa.
• Became President of St Ives Society of Artists (STISA) in 1966.
• Member of several artists organizations including the Newlyn School.
• Buried next to her husband at St Hilary Church, Cornwall.
• Her work is recognized for its evocative portrayal of Cornish life and its contribution to early twentieth-century British art.

Historical Significance

• A prominent figure in the Newlyn School of artists.
• Known for her unique vision and style that captured a sense of modernity.
• Her portrait "Morning" is considered a significant work of 20th-century British art, praised for its “sensuous but sombre style” and depiction of Cornish light.
• Contributed to the development of portraiture in Britain during the early 20th century.