Sunlight Waters in Mevagissey ~ Gyrth Russell

Artist Biography

Gyrth Russell was an expatriate Canadian painter, born in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada. He established a distinguished reputation early in his career in Canada, before living most of his life in Britain.

Studied at the Victoria School of Art and Design, Halifax, Nova Scotia (c 1909 – 1910), the Pape School of Art, Boston, Massachusetts (c.1911), the Academie Julian, Paris (c.1912 – 1914); and the Academie Colarossi, Paris (c.1912 – 1914).

During World War I, Russell served as a war artist and a lieutenant in the Canadian Army (1917 – 1919). In 1918 he was sent to northern France, to Vimy Ridge and the area around Arras. The Canadian War Museum, Ottawa has 32 Russell works in its permanent collection. He lived in the British Isles almost continuously since the outbreak of World War I ,and when he left art school in France moved to Rye, East Sussex ,c. 1915.He subsequently lived in London, c.1919 – 1944; Topsham, Devon c.1919 – 1944; Yorkshire where he lectured at the Doncaster School of Art 1944 – 1953; and finally in Penarth, South Wales ,1953 – 1970.

He exhibited in the Art Association of Montreal 1912-14, the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts 1918. His works were included in the & “Canadian War Memorials Exhibition” Burlington House, London, 1919; the & British Empire Exhibition", Wembley 1924. One man shows were held at Howard Roberts Gallery in Cardiff in 1956 and two at Penarth in 1961 and 1966. Exhibited at RI, RBA and RBC.

Museums: National Gallery of Canada, the Art Gallery of Hamilton (Ontario), Art Gallery of Nova Scotia (Halifax), Art Gallery of Greater Victoria (B.C.), Art Gallery of Ontario (Toronto), and several UK museums.