The Norman Wilkinson
Collection

The Norman Wilkinson Collection features six captivating Irish landscapes, each a testament to the artist’s enduring fascination with the sea and coastal scenery. These works were commissioned in 1949 for the University’s Medical Library, where they remain today at its current home in the Mulhouse Building on the site of the Royal Victoria Hospital.

Norman Wilkinson (1878-1971) was a prolific painter, illustrator, poster artist, and wartime camoufleur. A master of visual storytelling, he is perhaps best known as the inventive mind behind Dazzle Painting, a groundbreaking ship camouflage technique that played a crucial role during World War I.

Born in Cambridge, England, Wilkinson's artistic journey began around Portsmouth and Cornwall, where the sea captured his imagination. He honed his skills at Southsea School of Art, both as a student and later as an instructor. His studies continued under seascape painter Louis Grier, further deepening his love for maritime subjects. By the time he was 21, Wilkinson was studying academic figure painting in Paris, but his passion for the sea was already the driving force behind his work.