Cox, David (1783–1859)

English artist. He studied under John Varley and made a living as a drawing master. His watercolour landscapes, many of scenes in North Wales, show attractive cloud effects, and are characterized by broad colour washes on rough, tinted paper.

After a varied experience in painting the lids of snuff-boxes and also scenery for the provincial theatre, he had some lessons in watercolour from John Varley, and became a drawing master in London and at Hereford. In later years he painted much in North Wales, including a celebrated inn sign for the Royal Oak, Bettws-y-Coed. He is noted for watercolours in which broken touches and atmospheric effect give a distant anticipation of Impressionism. He took to oils late in life, adapting his watercolour technique. A Windy Day (Tate Gallery) well shows his special gift. His treatises on painting are the more conventional recipes of the drawing master.