John Ellison Canadian Marine Artist 1911-1957

John Ellison 1911-1957

John Ellison, well known Montreal artist, died in the Ross Pavilion of the Royal Victoria Hospital yesterday morning following a brief illness. He was 44. He will be buried Wednesday in Hamilton, Ont., where he was born and lived until seven years ago. Mr. Ellison was regarded as perhaps the most outstanding marine artist in Canada. His watercolour presentations of deep sea life off the coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland, where he usually spent his holidays, were marked by vigor of line and a magnificent mastery of colour. His wide and exact knowledge of ships and his deep understanding of the moods of the sea, qualities which were supplemented during his service with the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second World War, gave his work a convincing authenticity. He painted on a large scale and for several years his pictures have taken important places at Royal Canadian Academy and other exhibitions. One of his marine paintings was voted the best water colour of the year at the Montreal spring show of 1954. Mr Ellison was president of the Montreal Art Club, of the Pen and Pencil Club, and of the Association of Canadian Industrial Designers. He designed the one dollar stamp now in use. He was associated here with the firm of naval architects of Milne, Gilmore and Germain. Mr. Ellison lived at 101 Lynwood Drive, Beaconsfield. He is survived by his wife, the former Vera Wilton Selkirk of Northampton, England, his father, Walter Ellison and his brother Walter, both of Hamilton.