David Cox

David Cox was a master in the depiction of atmosphere and the effects of nature. (1783–1859) He was an influential English landscape painter whose work significantly contributed to the development of watercolour painting in the 19th century. Born in 1783, in Birmingham, Cox began his artistic career under the tutelage of the artist Joseph Barber. At the age of around 15, Cox began an apprenticeship under Albert Fielder, a portrait miniaturist and snuffbox painter. These early exposures imbued Cox with a keen sense of colour, detail and composition.

In 1804, Cox moved to London and made his first of many trips to Wales the following year. During this year, the artist created his earliest watercolours, and he quickly gained recognition for his ability to capture the transient effects of light and weather. Enamoured with the English coastlines and countryside, Cox made many sketching tours to the Home Counties, North Wales, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Devon throughout his lifetime.

Cox was elected as a member of the Society of Painters in Water Colours in 1813. This membership provided him with a platform to exhibit his work and connect with his contemporaries. His paintings from this period often depict the English countryside, capturing its serene beauty and changing moods with remarkable sensitivity and skill.

Since the mid to late 1830s, Cox had expressed intention to paint in oils. Despite his keen interest and output, the hostility between the Society of Painters in Water Colours and the Royal Academy made it difficult for Cox to become recognised in oil on top of his success in watercolour in London. By the 1840s, Cox was considered one of the leading figures of the English landscape watercolour style of the first half of the 19th century, alongside Peter De Wint and Copley Fielding.

Throughout his career, Cox maintained a strong connection to his native Birmingham, and he frequently returned to the region to paint. His favourite subjects included the Welsh mountains, the English Midlands, and coastal scenes, which he depicted with an intimate understanding of their unique characteristics. His later works would exemplify the ‘impressionistic’ qualities of the medium of watercolour.

Cox was also a dedicated teacher, influencing a generation of artists through his writings and teaching. David Cox died in 1859, aged 76. Today, his works can be found in the collections of the Louvre in Paris, the British Museum in London, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and more.