James Dodds was born in the east coast fishing town of Brightlingsea in 1957, and trained as a shipwright in Maldon. He then studied painting at Colchester School of Art, Chelsea College of Arts and the Royal College of Art, London. He is also a printmaker and has conceived, illustrated and hand-produced a series of artists books.
James regularly exhibits in London, Maldon, Manningtree, Norfolk and Maine USA.
In 2001 he had a major retrospective show, “Shipshape”, at Firstsite at The Minories in Colchester. The show subsequently toured Whitstable, Herne Bay, Frome, the Isle of Wight, Barnard Castle, the National Maritime Museum of Cornwall, the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich, Great Yarmouth and Hartlepool.
In 2015 he returned to Firstsite in its new building in Colchester with another substantial exhibition, “Wood to Water”. In 2019 he took “Wood to Water” to the National Maritime Museum Cornwall, this time depicting Cornish boats.
In July 2007 James received an honorary doctorate from the University of Essex in recognition of his “distinguished contribution to the local community as an artist and defender of our community and natural heritage.”
In 2016 to mark the 70th anniversary of the Colchester Art Society, a special anniversary medal designed by the sculptor, John Doubleday, was awarded to James Dodds for his outstanding contribution to the visual arts.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
1983: “Icarus”, Minories, Colchester
1984, 1995, 1998, 2000: Aldeburgh Festival
1985: “Ship of Fools”, Hatton Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne
1986: “Fish, Flesh or Fowl”, Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich
1989, 1990, 1995, 1997: Printworks, Colchester
1989, 1992, 1995, 1999, 2009, 2014, 2018: Bircham Contemporary Arts, Norfolk
1990, 1994, 2005: Chapel Galleries, Essex
1992: Sue Rankin Gallery, London (2-man show with John Bratby RA)
2001: North House Gallery, Manningtree, (2-man show with John Reay)
2001, 2007: Art Exchange, Essex University Gallery
2001: “Shipshape”, Firstsite at The Minories, Colchester
“Shipshape” tour:
2002: Whitstable & Hearne Bay Museums & Art Galleries, Kent
Black Swan Arts, Frome, Somerset
Quay Arts, Newport, Isle of Wight
Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, Co. Durham
2003: National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
2004: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
2005: Time & Tide, Great Yarmouth
Buckenham Gallery, Southwold
Hartlepool Art Gallery, Hartlepool
Thurso & Wick, Scotland
Fermoy Gallery, King’s Lynn Arts Centre, King’s Lynn
2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018: Messum’s, Cork Street London
2005, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020: Hayletts Gallery, Maldon
2008: “Salthouse 08: Seahouse, Lighthouse, Spirithouse”, Salthouse, Norfolk (mixed show)
2010, 2012, 2017: Dowling Walsh Gallery, Rockland, Maine. USA
2013: “Masterpieces, Art and East Anglia” Sainsbury Centre, UEA Norwich (mixed show)
2015: “Wood to Water” Firstsite, Colchester
2019: “Wood to Water” National Maritime Museum Cornwall, Falmouth
Collections
Britten-Pears Library, Aldeburgh
Victoria & Albert Museum
Clacton & Rochford Hospitals
Chelmsford and Essex Museums
Ipswich Borough Council, Museums and Galleries
Colchester Borough Council
UCS East Contemporary Art Collection, Ipswich
MMoFA, Madison, Georgia, USA
Horniman Museum, London
Fred Olsen; National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art, Paget, Bermuda
The Sainsbury Centre, UEA, Norwich
The Victor Batte-Lay Foundation
