D’Oyly-John (1906-1993) “Venice – street off the Grand Canal by Place Marco” – original oil painting

Frame size : 85cm x 49cm

Born in 1906 in Germiston, Doyly John’s early life was in South Africa. Before becoming a professional artist he traveled extensively and had many jobs including the Military Police, pearl fishing and life saving.

Doyly John was wounded by a bomb in 1945 which temporarily blinded him and may added to his artistic style in the way he viewed colour. Doyly John started to paint seriously when he moved to South Africa with his wife Joan and supplied London galleries. Doyly John later moved to Cannes before retiring to England to live in Brighton and then finally Rottingdean, Sussex. Doyly-John died in 1993.

Doyly John’s full name is Cecil Rochfort D’Oyly John and on official documents he is recorded as D’Oyly-John. Socially he used the name D’Oyly as a first name but online Doyly-John is also seen.

He signs his work ‘DOYLY-JOHN’ and may have a printed biography on the back. ‘Living in the Sun’ a book about his life was published in 2012.

Doyly John painted original oil paintings of the French and Italian riviera, Venice, Paris and Spain along with the West Indies including Jamacia, Trinidad, Tobago and the south coast of England. We have also had examples of ships, trains and flowers. Titles include Cap Ferrat, Cannes, Eden Roc, Costa del Sol, Portofino, Cap d’Antibes, Nice, Costa Brava, Monte Carlo, Cassis, Juan les Pins and St Tropez.

Doyly-John had some of the best selling prints of the 1950’s, many bear the publisher’s name ©️Frost & Reed in small writing at the bottom of the print. Titles include The Kiosk – St Tropez, Cafe Bar, the Piazza San Marco, Ponte Vecchio – Florence, The Old Bridge – Venice, The Old Archway, Valbonne, Down to the Beach – Cap Ferrat, Riviera Sun, Georgio from the Riva Schiavoni.

Galleries and museums around the UK hold his work. Look at ART UK.

Related artists: Barry Peckham, Richard Tratt and Robert King