Thomas Frederick Daws Biography

Thomas Frederick Daws (1878-1956) was born in London on the 2nd of October 1878. 

Daws studied at the Lambeth School of Art. In 1896, at age 18, he exhibited his first work at the Royal Academy; he went on to exhibit 11 further works there. He also exhibited at The Paris Salon; the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts; the Royal Institute of Oil Painters; the Walker Gallery in Liverpool; and at the Royal Society of British Artists.

He is particularly notable for his bold, colourful palette and his use of colour and thickly applied strokes. His technique created striking styles and produced paintings of a different character and more modern form than his contemporaries in the world of dog painting.

Daws is perhaps best known for his many paintings of Mrs Campbell-Inglis' Poodles from the famous Wimbledon Mannerhead Kennels, which he produced over 20 years. As with his contemporary, Reuben Ward Binks, he painted many of the prize dogs of well-known dog fanciers.

Perhaps less well known are Daws' sculptures in bronze, including commissions again for Mrs Campbell-Inglis. He was a master of canine anatomy and his bronzes, while little known, are important records of top-winning show dogs, as are his paintings.

In 1930, Daws became the main artist designing a range of porcelain champion Crufts-winning dogs for Royal Doulton, which were issued from 1931 to 1968. This included the English Springer Crufts Champion, 'Dry Toast'. His paintings were also reproduced on a series of thirty-six postcards for the Spratts Dog Food Company.

The Samoyed, 'Champion Loga of the Arctic', painted for Miss Marion Keyte Perry, was published as the cover to the Christmas supplement to 'Our Dogs'. The painting is now in the collection of the Kennel Club together with others by the artist. His works depicting the Afghans and Mannerhead Poodles can be seen in the collection of the American Kennel Club.