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Myles Tonks:
Dornadilla's Castle, Sutherland, North Scotland, circa 1920
Mounted (ref: 2042)
Watercolour, 10 x 14 in. (25.5 x 35.5 cm.)

Tags: Myles Tonks watercolour seascapes and skyscapes topography

Provenance: the artist’s family, by descent.

This striking landscape shows the Pictish Broch of Dornadilla (Dun Dornaigil )  in Sutherland, a Prehistoric dry stone defense fortress.

Benefiting from the unrivalled teaching of his uncle, Henry Tonks, Myles Tonks excelled in painting on-the-spot landscape and coastal views, responding especially to the rugged scenery of the Scottish Highlands. According to his grandson, Myles Bevis, he enjoyed travelling to areas where he could be alone and at one with the countryside and as removed as possible from humanity such as remote mountainous country and serene coastal areas.  His mainly landscape art reflects this outlook and rarely features people.  Excluding sketches, photos and notes which were carried out in situ most of his art was created from these in the studio, cigarette in long holder clamped firmly between his teeth, and oil paintings in various stages of completion were scattered all around this until dry enough to receive the next layer or the final touches to the sky.  Tonks’ paintings were rarely signed by the artist unless created to be exhibited or had been commissioned. Myles Tonks was also a much respected medical general practitioner which he retired from  in 1958. 

We are grateful to Myles Bevis for assistance