Maurice Canning Wilks
Encyclopedia
Maurice Canning Wilks was an Irish landscape painter. Born in Belfast in 1910 to a linen designer, he was educated in Belfast
at the Malone Public School and attended evening classes at the Belfast College of Art. While attending college he was awarded the Dunville Scholarship allowing him to attend day classes. He went on to exhibit at the Royal Hibernian Academy
(RHA) in Dublin where he would one day become an associate member. He was also elected a full member of the Royal Ulster Academy
(RUA).
After college, Wilks resided in Cushendun
, in the Glens of Antrim
. Wilks's early landscapes were mainly of the Irish northern and western counties including Donegal
, Antrim
and Kerry
.
During his career he went on to exhibit internationally in London
, Boston
, Montreal
and Toronto
.
In his later years he maintained a summer studio at Sutton
where he painted many scenes of the area including Dublin Bay
.
His works are in public collections throughout the world including the Ulster Museum
, Armagh County Museum
, the Ulster Folk and Transportation Museum, the Office of Public Works in Dublin and the Limerick City Art Gallery.
Wilks died in 1984.
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
at the Malone Public School and attended evening classes at the Belfast College of Art. While attending college he was awarded the Dunville Scholarship allowing him to attend day classes. He went on to exhibit at the Royal Hibernian Academy
Royal Hibernian Academy
The Royal Hibernian Academy is an artist-based and artist-oriented institution in Ireland, founded in Dublin in 1823.-History:The RHA was founded as the result of 30 Irish artists petitioning the government for a charter of incorporation...
(RHA) in Dublin where he would one day become an associate member. He was also elected a full member of the Royal Ulster Academy
Royal Ulster Academy
The Royal Ulster Academy has existed in one form or another since 1879. It started life then, as The Belfast Ramblers' Sketching Club...
(RUA).
After college, Wilks resided in Cushendun
Cushendun
Cushendun is a small coastal village in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It sits off the A2 coast road between Cushendall and Ballycastle. It has a sheltered harbour and lies at the mouth of the River Dun and Glendun, one of the nine Glens of Antrim. The Mull of Kintyre in Scotland is only about...
, in the Glens of Antrim
Glens of Antrim
The Glens of Antrim , known locally as simply The Glens, is a region of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It comprises nine glens , that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim...
. Wilks's early landscapes were mainly of the Irish northern and western counties including Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Antrim
County Antrim
County Antrim is one of six counties that form Northern Ireland, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Adjoined to the north-east shore of Lough Neagh, the county covers an area of 2,844 km², with a population of approximately 616,000...
and Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
.
During his career he went on to exhibit internationally in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
.
In his later years he maintained a summer studio at Sutton
Sutton, Dublin
Sutton is a residential suburb of Dublin's Northside, Ireland, at the base of Howth Head, the peninsula which forms the northern edge of Dublin Bay.-Location and geography:...
where he painted many scenes of the area including Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay
Dublin Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea on the east coast of Ireland. The bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south...
.
His works are in public collections throughout the world including the Ulster Museum
Ulster Museum
The Ulster Museum, located in the Botanic Gardens in Belfast, has around 8,000 square metres of public display space, featuring material from the collections of fine art and applied art, archaeology, ethnography, treasures from the Spanish Armada, local history, numismatics, industrial...
, Armagh County Museum
Armagh County Museum
The Armagh County Museum is a museum in Armagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Located on the Mall, the museum is one of the national museums of Northern Ireland...
, the Ulster Folk and Transportation Museum, the Office of Public Works in Dublin and the Limerick City Art Gallery.
Wilks died in 1984.