Sir William Nicholson

Sir William Nicholson 1872-1949, English woodcut artist, illustrator, and painter. The striking contrasts of black and white of his woodcutting technique were used to great effect on posters, on which he collaborated with his brother-in-law James Pryde. They became known as the Beggerstaff Brothers. Nicholson illustrated many books and his woodcut portraits, verging sometimes on caricature, cover a large segment of London society. He was knighted in 1936. His work is represented in the Tate Gallery, London.

Nicholson, Sir William (1872–1949). British painter and graphic artist. He is perhaps best remembered for his brilliant early work as a poster designer, done in collaboration with his brother-in-law James Pryde under the name ‘J. & W. Beggarstaff ’. As a painter he was successful mainly as a portraitist, but he is now particularly admired for his still lifes, typically small, unpretentious, and sensitively handled.

Nicholson, Sir William (1872–1949). British painter and graphic artist, the father of Ben Nicholson. He was born in Newark-on-Trent and studied at Sir Hubert Herkomer's school of art in Bushey, Hertfordshire, 1888–9, and the Académie Julian, Paris, 1889–90. In 1893 he married James Pryde's sister Mabel, and he is perhaps best remembered for the brilliant poster designs he did in collaboration with Pryde under the name J. & W. Beggarstaff. As a painter he was successful mainly as a portraitist; his early work was strongly influenced by Whistler (his friend and fellow-dandy), but his colouring became brighter in the 1920s. He also painted landscapes, still-lifes, and other subjects, made woodcuts, and designed for the stage, including the sets for the first production of Peter Pan in 1904. His still-lifes are now his most admired paintings—typically small, unpretentious, and sensitively handled. There are examples of his work in the National Portrait Gallery and the Tate Gallery, London.