WILKINSON, Thomas William

1875 - 1950

Thomas William Wilkinson was born at 4 Kingswood Street, Horton, Bradford, Yorkshire on 18 October 1875, son of Eli Wilkinson (c1833-1896), a police constable, and his wife Mary née Dean, who married at Bradford in 1856. Thomas studied at Bradford Art School and in 1891 was living at Derby Street, Horton with his parents, 58-year-old Eli and 56-year-old Mary with siblings Jane Ann 28, a school mistress and Lewis Henry 22, an architect's assistant. Thomas married at Bradford in 1900, Annie Sharp (1873-1917) and around 1904, they came to live at Ipswich where he studied at the Ipswich School of Art under George Rushton passing his examinations in ornamental painting in 1909. In 1911, a 35-year-old accountant for the Ipswich Corporation Electricity and Transport Departments, living at 6 Blenheim Road, Ipswich with his 37-year-old wife Annie and their two children, Sidney Davis 9 and Harry 8, both born at Bradford. A sculptor, mainly of portrait heads, an Associate Member of the Royal Society of British Sculptors, also a member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1907-1949 and exhibited from 6 Blenheim Road, Ipswich in 1916, a 'Statuette' made to order in plaster or bronze also in 1923, a bronze statuette 'Sleep', a plaster 'Bust' and a wood 'Bust of an Old Man', in 1927 a statuette in bronze and in 1943 four statuettes, two bronzes 'Diana Resting' and 'Head of a Woman' and two plaster 'Torso' and 'Of Such is the Kingdom of Heaven' and exhibited five sculptures in 1944. He also exhibited at Tibbenham's Art Gallery, Upper Brook Street, Ipswich in 1943, eight sculptures 'In Disgrace', 'Aspiration', 'Adolescence', 'The Elf', 'My Mother', 'Lot's Wife', 'A Philosopher' and 'Portrait-Dr. Otaker Vocadlo, of Prague' which was also exhibited at the Paris Salon. Thomas also exhibited at the Royal Academy and at the Paris Salon from 1912 and his work was part of the sculpture event in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics. At the centenary exhibition of the Ipswich Art Club in 1974, two of his bronzes were displayed 'Adolescence' and 'Portrait of an Old Lady'. In 1939, Thomas William Wilkinson was a widower, still living at 8 Blenheim Road, Ipswich where he died on 30 April 1950. His portrait in pencil was drawn by Eleanor Gribble.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 59 Waverley Road, Great Horton, Bradford
1903 1772 Baby - medallion
from 6 Blenheim Road, Ipswich
1917 1570 Summer Dreams - statuette
1929 1446 Dr. Otakar Vocadlo - bronze

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Works by This Artist