Roy Philip Parkinson (3 June 1901 – 9 May 1945) was an Australian artist, known for his watercolour paintings. His works are collected in a number of Australian galleries.

Early life

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Roy Parkinson was born in Brisbane, Queensland on 3 June 1901 to parents Cyril Parkinson and his wife Jane Silcock.[1] He studied at Brisbane State High School[2] and later studied art at the Brisbane Central Technical College under F. J. Martyn Roberts. He also took lessons from William Bustard and Hubert Jarvis.[3]

Parkinson exhibited his work in Brisbane,[4] Sydney and Melbourne[5] and travelled to Victoria to take in different subjects for his paintings.[6] At an exhibition in 1930, 49 of his works were sold, a record for sales at a private exhibition at that point.[7] One of his works was submitted to the Coronation Exhibition in London in 1937, along with other significant Queensland artists of the period, including Vida Lahey.[8] He was President of the Royal Queensland Art Society in 1934.Archive

 
Roy Parkinson (far right) and his pupils at the Gainsborough Gallery, Brisbane, Queensland, 1937 Courtesy: State Library of Queensland 1 121004

Parkinson taught art and was an art critic for the local newspapers. He applied to be a war artist during World War II.[9] The book Praise life and practise art, which was published posthumously in 1946 represented a collection of the transcripts of some of his radio interviews on various topics.[10]

Legacy

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Parkinson married Gladys Ann Canning in 1928.[11] He died 9 May 1945, after suffering from ill health and was survived by his wife.[12]

Collections

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Archive

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Parkinson's papers including photographs of some of his work are held in the Fryer Library of The University of Queensland.[17]

References

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  1. ^ "Record details of Roy Philip Parkinson". www.familyhistory.bdm.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. ^ "State High School". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872–1947). 3 July 1926. p. 4. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Art panel selection". Brisbane Telegraph (Qld. : 1948–1954). 24 April 1954. p. 19. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  4. ^ "Art and Artists". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933–1954). 11 November 1933. p. 19. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ "State Library Victoria – Viewer". State Library Victoria. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  6. ^ "QUEENSLANDER ON TOUR WITH BRUSH AND PEN". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933–1954). 20 October 1934. p. 21. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  7. ^ "Talk With Lord Mayor on City Hall Gallery". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872–1947). 18 December 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  8. ^ "Disappointment Over Queensland Response To Empire Art Show". Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872–1947). 13 February 1937. p. 11. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  9. ^ "RecordSearch | National Archives of Australia". recordsearch.naa.gov.au. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  10. ^ "Book News". Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842–1954). 25 January 1947. p. 14. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  11. ^ "PARKINSON—CANNING". Brisbane Courier (Qld. : 1864–1933). 9 October 1928. p. 20. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  12. ^ "WELL-KNOWN ARTIST'S TRAGIC DEATH". Truth (Brisbane, Qld. : 1900–1954). 24 June 1945. p. 20. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  13. ^ "NGV Collection: Roy Parkinson". National Gallery of Victoria. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Transparent: Watercolour in Queensland 1850s–1980s". QAGOMA Blog. 18 March 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  15. ^ "Roy Parkinson (b.1901, d.1945)". Castlemaine Art Museum Collection Online. Retrieved 18 September 2021.
  16. ^ "PICTURES OF CHARM". Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933–1954). 8 November 1933. p. 12. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  17. ^ "Roy P. Parkinson Papers–Fryer Manuscripts". manuscripts.library.uq.edu.au. Retrieved 19 November 2020.