Archibald Dawson

Archibald C. Dawson ARSA (16 April 1892 – 15 April 1938) was a Scottish sculptor, specialising in architectural carving. Two of his most noteworthy works include wood and stone carvings for the University of Glasgow Memorial Chapel and sculptures for the Russell Institute in Paisley, featuring images of his wife and two sons.

Personal life and career He was born in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire at 23 High Partick Street.

Dawson's father, Mathew Dawson, was also an architectural carver who was in partnership with the Glasgow sculptor, James Milne Sherriff (1861–1904)

From 1911 to 1913 he attended the Glasgow School of Art and received the Haldane Trust Award. In his final year, he taught stone carving. Dawson then served during World War I in the Glasgow Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. between 1923–1927. He worked on several churches by Jack Antonio Coia and the Ross Memorial Church in 1927.

Another important work was the Russell Institute in Paisley, Scotland where he created between 1927 and 1929 groups and figures in bronze and other materials. His wife and two sons were models for the large sculpture over the entrance.

As well as his works for churches, Dawson also created the following works in Glasgow: 1927–1931 – Scottish Legal Life Building reliefs and heraldry A statue of St. Andrew that is on the exterior of what was the North British & Mercantile Building, now the Sun Alliance building. Dawson and his wife were added about 1952 by Jack Mortimer. The Dawsons represented the Seafarer and Seafarer's wife. 1928–1929 – Industry and Shipbuilding figures on the Mercat Building 1928–1929 – Mercat Cross at Glasgow Cross 1930 – Heraldic Unicorn, Margaret Findlay was his model for the work. 1933–1935 – Tennent Memorial Building Sculpture for other commercial buildings. 1938 – St Peter in Chains, Ardrossan, Ayrshire, The Stations of the Cross. Church built in 1938 by Jack Coia, Category A listed building.

His final work, created in 1938, was St. Andrew as a Young Man for the Empire Exhibition's Scottish Pavilion in Bellahouston. Due to his sudden death, the work became his memorial during the Empire Exhibition.

Other works The following is a partial list of Dawson's works Head of a child The mask Mother and child 1915 – Youth 1919 – Portrait Study of Miss Nelson 1923 – Ophelia 1923 – Portrait of Miss Betty Liddell 1924 – Kelpie 1924 – Mark for black marble 1925 – Benje 1933 – Jack Antonio Coia, ARIBA 1934 – Portrait 1935 – Miss Margot Gardner 1936 – Hamish Dawson Davidson 1936 – Sketch for a garden 1936 – Helen Elizabeth Anne Hutchison 1937 – Viscount Andover 1937 – James Campbell Semple 1937 – The artist's wife 1938 – Helen Elizabeth Anne 1938 – Moyra Mainds

Exhibitions Dawson exhibited his work many times from 1915 to 1939: The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture: 1924, 1925, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939 The Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts: 1915, 1919, 1923 Palace of Arts Empire Exhibition Scotland: 1938