Exhibition of Paintings at the Centre Print E-mail
Monday, 11 August 2008
An exhibition featuring the paintings of John Gutteridge Sykes opened at the Centre on Saturday, 9th August and will be open daily from 10 am to 4 pm for a week, ending on Saturday, 16th August. John Gutteridge Sykes was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in 1866.  Born into a manufacturing family he developed a desire to paint at an early age and left the family home, establishing  a reputation as an artist;  although he found it necessary to teach sketching and painting to provide himself with a regular income. Primarily a water colourist, he exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1906. Having attracted sponsorship from a wealthy patron of the arts, he was able to  travel and arrived in Newlyn in 1914, accompanied by his wife, Sadia. Here he was to remain until his death in 1941. Sykes was quickly accepted by the Newlyn School of Artists and was able to buy a house in Cairn William Terrace overlooking the harbour, this became the family home. He and Sadia had three children and one of his daughters, Dorcie, aged six years when the family came to Newlyn, continued to live there until her death, aged ninety years, in 1998. Many Newlyn residents remember her, not only for her painting, but also for her love of cats.

Some of Dorcie Sykes paintings are in the exhibition, together with those of Charles Breaker amongst others.  However, the main focus is on the work of John  Gutteridge Sykes. This exhibition is well worth a visit but make haste, it is only on for a week .

Margaret Perry
Comments (3)Add Comment
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written by Heather Marsh, August 29, 2010
I have a watercolour painting by Dorcie Sykes, given to my parents as a wedding present in 1945. I would love to know more about her. Is it possible to obtain a copy of 'The Sea Cats' or any other publication you know of? You are my strongest lead so far!
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written by Margaret Perry, July 17, 2010
I do not know of any publication, catalogue or otherwise, entirely devoted to the work of John Gutteridge Sykes but there are certainly examples of his work in the Penlee Gallery and Museum at Penzance. The most recent mention of him I am aware of is in a book published last year - 'Artists in Newlyn and West Cornwall 1880-1940' edited by Melissa Hardie and published by Art Dictionaries Ltd. The ISBN number is 978-0-953260-96-6 and your local library may well have a copy. None of his work is illustrated in this book. I possess a booklet (16pp, A4 format) of stories about cats written and illustrated by Dorcie Sykes. Called 'The Sea Cats' the cover and every page has drawings, of cats and local views, etc on the first page is a brief autobiography with mentions of her parents, brother and sister. It will have been produced in the late 1970s, early 1980s as the copy I possess was given to someone as a gift in 1984.
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written by Steven J. Gutteridge, July 13, 2010
Greetings
have only recently found out about Gutteridge Sykes water colour paintings.

I am interestd in trying to view more. So far have not had much luck in finding out about him.
So far yours is the best.

Would greatly apprecaite any assitance.

Is there a known catalogue of his works including more detail of his family?
regards Steven Gutteridge

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