Annie Dixon

Annie Dixon (c. 1817 - 1901) was a 19th-century English miniature portrait painter. From 1859, she was commissioned for numerous royal portraits by Queen Victoria.

Biography

Dixon was the eldest daughter of seven children (two sons, five daughters) born to a corn chandler in Horncastle, Lincolnshire. She began working with water-colour by the mid-19th century, and completed portraits in Horncastle. Despite this instruction, Dixon did not spend much time studying art, copying pictures, or pursuing further education. Dixon worked in Hull, on the Isle of Wight, and in London until the end of the 19th century. From 1844 to 1893, Dixon displayed 222 portraits at the Royal Academy. A number of her portraits remain in the Royal Collection. The royal favour she received from Queen Victoria allowed Dixon to earn further commissions from nobility. Dixon occasionally used gilded backgrounds in her work. Her skill at capturing likenesses meant that she had a successful career during a time when many portraitists were facing competition from the advent of photography.

Dixon died on 15 February 1901 at the age of 83 and was buried in Horncastle cemetery.

Gallery