Mabel Dawson facts for kids

Mabel Dawson (born October 13, 1887 – died 1965) was a talented Scottish artist. She was known for painting many different things, especially animals and birds. She used both watercolour and a special type of paint called tempera.

Mabel Dawson: An Artist's Life

Mabel Dawson was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. She loved art from a young age. She studied at the Edinburgh College of Art. Later, she went to London to learn even more. In London, she attended a special school. This school was run by William Frank Calderon in Kensington. It taught artists how to paint animals.

Her Home and Studio

After her training, Mabel returned to Edinburgh. She lived there for most of her life. She also had her own art studio. Her first studio was at 130 George Street. Later, in 1943, she moved her studio to Palmerston Place.

What She Painted

Mabel Dawson became very famous for her paintings. She loved to paint animals, beautiful flowers, and different kinds of birds. But she didn't stop there! She also painted landscapes. These were often scenes of fishing villages along Scotland's east coast. She even painted historical scenes.

Mabel was also very good at embroidery. This is the art of decorating fabric with needle and thread. She also did other decorative work. In the 1930s, she created designs for a special group. This group was called the Scottish Society for the Protection of Wild Birds. Her art helped protect these birds.

Showing Her Art

Mabel Dawson was a very active artist. She showed her work in many places. She displayed over ninety paintings. These were shown at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. She also showed many works at the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society.

She exhibited about 78 paintings at the Royal Scottish Academy. She also showed her art at the Royal Academy at least once. Another place she exhibited was the Aberdeen Artists Society.

Joining Art Societies

Mabel was recognized for her talent. She was chosen to join the Society of Scottish Artists in 1907. Ten years later, she was also elected to the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society. Being elected means other artists recognized her skill. It was a great honor.

Today, you can see examples of her work. The Newport Museum and Art Gallery has some of her paintings.