George Weatherill

One of Yorkshire’s finest watercolourists, George Weatherill was born at Staithes and spent his entire life in the Whitby area. He worked as a clerk in Chapman’s Bank and remained with the firm until 1860, when he left to become a full time artist. He was essentially a self- taught artist, although he had some instruction from Thomas Byrd and collaborated with the artist George Dodgson, who became a family friend.
He also spent time studying the work of J.M.W.Turner, and this had a profound influence on his style.
His early work is usually on a small scale, drawn with immaculate draughtsmanship and with a fine clarity of colour. His later work, from 1860 onwards, clearly exhibits his debt to Turner, the great master of light. Weath-erill captured in his delicate watercolours the unique quality of Northern coastal light. His handling of moon-light, sunset and sunrise have yet to be equalled by any other northern artist and have earned him the nickname ‘The Turner of the North’.
Weatherill exhibited mainly on a local basis, since he was in the fortunate position of having a patron, although he did exhibit for a brief period at the Suffolk Street Galleries and at the Dudley Gallery.

Collections: An extremely fine collection of the artists work is in the Pannett Art Gallery, Whitby.

Bibliography: The Weatherills of Whitby Published by Whitby Art Gallery