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Douglas Gordon Shields
Born	(1888-05-22)22 May 1888 London, England
Died	1 June 1940(1940-06-01) (aged 52) Edinburgh, Scotland
Nationality	Scottish
Known for	Portraits
Relatives	Harry Gordon Shields, father

Douglas Gordon Shields (22 May 1888 - 1 June 1940) was a Scottish painter.

Life

His father was Harry Gordon Shields, the Managing Director of the John Shields Company, a linen manufacturer in Perth; he was also an artist.

His mother was Selina Duesbury (1862 - 14 March 1939).

They married in October 1882 in the town of Sculcoates in Yorkshire.

They had two children Alexander Crosby Shields (born 1884), known as Alick, and Douglas Gordon Shields (22 May 1888 - 1 June 1940). Alick followed his father in becoming the Managing Director of the John Shields Company; Douglas followed his father by becoming an artist.

Both children were born in Middlesex, when his father was the London manager of the John Shields company.

When Harry Gordon Shields cousin, Robert Philip Shields then the sole director of the company, died on 25 December 1893, the family moved back to Scotland and his father assumed Managing Director of the linen manufacturing business.

Douglas and his brother Alick were then brought up and schooled in Scotland. During the First World War Douglas was a lieutanent with the 14th Royal Scots.

Douglas married Annie Florence Lamb (30 Mary 1899 - 16 March 1993) in 1918 in Edinburgh.

Death

Douglas Gordon Shields died on 1 June 1940 in Edinburgh. He left an estate of £7852.

From the Edinburgh Evening News:

DEATH OF NOTED SCOTS PAINTER. The death has occurred of Mr Douglas Gordon Shields, Edinburgh, the well-known Scottish portrait painter. The son of Mr Harry G. Shields, of St Andrews, Perth and Dunfermline linen manufacturer, he painted both figure and landscape for a time when he settled in Edinburgh. Eventually, however, Mr Shields specialised in portrait painting, and since the last war his works have appeared regularly at the leading Scottish exhibitions. Mr Shields is survived by his wife and a son.

From the St. Andrews Citizen:

The late Mr Douglas Gordon Shields. Scottish Portrait Painter. The death took place last Saturday at 8 Clarendon Crescent, Edinburgh, of Mr Douglas Gordon Shields, son of the late Mr and Mrs Harry G. Shields, The Swilken, St Andrews. Mr. D. G. Shields, like his father, was a gifted artist and achieved distinction as Scottish portrait painter. He is survived by his wife. A service was held In the Crematorium, Warriston Road, Edinburgh, Tuesday. The correspondent in the Scotsmen, pays the following tribute to Mr Shields:-

Shields was known over Scotland as portrait painter, having carried through large number of important commissions, his kindly temperament endeared him to a large circle of personal acquaintances. He had just completed the Very Rev. Dr Cairns, which is shortly to be presented at Aberdeen; and it was an indication of the friendly relations which Mr. Shields always inspired his sitters that Cairns made point of conducting the funeral service of the artist at the Warriston Crematorium. The son of Mr Harry G. Shields, St Andrews. who, for many years was well-known as linen manufacturer in Perth and Dunfermline, Gordon trained from the first for an artistic career. His father was interested in painting, and was an artist of considerable attainment himself, being a member of the R.B A. Society, and he determined that his son should have every opportunity developing his artistic gifts. Accordingly, Douglas began his serious training for art at an early age. proceeding to the Royal Academy schools in London. He worked for a while also the studio of Cope. He travelled in Italy before the war; and an important figure work, recently exhibited in the Scottish Arts Club, shows the influence the classical school on his painting of that period. He enlisted in the last war, serving with the 13th Royal Scots, which he held commission, and suffered shell-shock on active service. In the outbreak the war last September he volunteered his services, and eventually joined up as a private. His health, however, was not good, and was retired on this account. On settling as an artist in Edinburgh, he painted both figure and landscape for a time; but gradually specialised in portrait painting. He was particularly successful in the delicate nuances of feminine portraiture. Examples of his work have appeared consistently at the leading Scottish exhibitions since the last war. One of the best examples of his portraiture, exhibited a few years ago, was a portrait of his wife, whose maiden name is Annie Florence Lamb. He was a well-known member of the Scottish Arts Club, where he had many friends. Interested keenly in music, he was an accomplished cello player. He is survived by his wife and son.

Works

The Perth Art Gallery bought Shields work The Lomond Hills. It was reported as:

An imaginative and personal transmutation of nature in terms of design and decorative value is shown in The Lomond Hills, a most accomplished piece of work. In a neighbourhood where there are many old towers and many mansions lying beneath the ridge of hills, the West Lomond and the East Lomond show a note of strength and boldness.

References

Category:1888 births Category:1940 deaths Category:Scottish male painters