The John Nicholson Foundation

John was born in 1911 the son of Frank Nicholson a House Painter and Decorator. He was the grandson of the well know Manx Artist John Millar Nicholson.  John was educated at Douglas High School and went into the family business on leaving school.   Although John was a self taught artist he went on to establish himself over the next 50 years as one of the most successful Manx Painters.  He was a Member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, an exclusive organisation of only 58 elected members in the British Isles.  He was a Member of the Pastel Society of Arts,  and an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of  Arts and of British Interior Design.  He was a leading member of the IoM Art Society and was their President up until his death.

He produced a wide variety of work from landscapes and coastal scenes to maritime subjects often in oils, in watercolours and in pastels. His subjects not only included scenes from the IoM but also from Scotland,  and far away in Norway, in Venice and even in Hamburg.He designed Manx Bank notes for the IoM Government in 1958 and again in 1969. He designed Manx Coins and Manx Stamps.  He also produced illuminated addresses, three of which were presented to King George V

After John's tragic death in 1988, to commemorate his life and work a Special Cover was produced by the IoM Post Office in association with Rushen & Western Mann Rotary Club under the watchful eye of Felix Gale and thanks to the sale of these Covers and his paintings the Club raised