Jennifer Dickson RA – 1936 – is one of Canada’s most distinguished photographic artists.

Jennifer Dickson RA is one of Canada’s most distinguished photographic artists.

Dickson had already established an international reputation as an artist, before emigrating to Canada in 1969. Born in the Republic of South Africa in 1936, she studied at Goldsmiths’ College School of Art (University of London, England) from 1954-1959; and from 1960-1965 was an Associate of the prestigious graphic workshop, Atelier 17 in Paris, studying under the late S.W. Hayter. She has lived and worked in England, France, Jamaica and the United States. In 1974, she became a Canadian Citizen and now resides in Ottawa, Canada.

Since 1962, Jennifer Dickson has had more than 60 one-person exhibitions in six countries and has participated in more than 400 group exhibitions. She has been a guest lecturer at nine US Universities, and she has been invited to speak across Canada at Canadian art schools and universities.

Her awards include the Prix de Jeunes Artistes pour Gravure, from the 1963 Biennale de Paris, and a Special Purchase Award from the World Print Competition (San Francisco Museum of Art, 1974). In 1980, she was awarded the Biennale Prize of the 5th Norwegian International Print Biennale. She has represented Canada in the Internationale Buchkunst-Austellung Leipzig on several occasions since 1977. In 1988, her book, The Hospital for Wounded Angels, was chosen by the Association of Canadian Publishers as the Canadian book for presentation at the London Book Fair.

In 1976, Jennifer Dickson was elected a Royal Academician (RA) by the The Royal Academy of Arts, in London, England, the only Canadian in the 200-year history of this prestigious institution to have been so honoured. She is, in addition, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers (London, England). In 1988, she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Alberta, Edmonton, for her contribution to Canadian culture.