Winifred Nicholson (1893-1981)

In the summer of 1928 Winifred Nicholson and her family stayed at Feock, near Truro in Cornwall. It was to be an eventful and productive trip. The cottage Haylands, with views over the Creek (correctly termed Pill Creek), inspired Winifred to paint a number of pictures of boats and Pill Creek in various guises. Winifred described the area as, 'a sleeping beauty's countryside of southern foliage, sheltered creeks and wide expanse of placid water' (A. Nicholson (ed.), Unknown Colour: Paintings, Letters, Writings by Winifred Nicholson, London, 1987, p. 91).

Winifred Nicholson completed several paintings while at Feock, including Estuary (The Courtauld Gallery), Pill Creek, (Government Art Collection) and Fishing Boat, Feock (ex Dartington Hall Trust), while working alongside her husband Ben Nicholson. Later Christopher Wood joined the Nicholsons and all three painters worked together. And it was from Feock that Ben Nicholson and Christopher Wood made a day trip to St Ives where they 'discovered' the primitive painter Alfred Wallis. Shortly afterwards they all moved from Feock to St Ives.

Intriguingly the nude on the reverse bears similarities to Christopher Wood's painting, Seated Girl in an Interior, sold in these Rooms 14th November 1986, lot 361.

We are very grateful to Jovan Nicholson for preparing the catalogue entries for lots 184, 220 and 221.