George Pilkington

South African painter George Pilkington was mainly self-taught, instructed by James Ford (?-1910), a well-known Cape Town art-teacher of the 1890s. In 1905 he was elected a lay member of South African Society of Artists, as painting was only a hobby to him at that time. He became a civil servant, serving as private secretary to Henry Burton (1866-1935), who was variously South African Minister of Finance and Minister of Railways and Harbours.

Pilkington was also a very keen yachtsman and trout fisherman. In 1924 he began a full-time painting career, devoting himself almost exclusively to marine subjects, occasionally also landscape and harbor scenes, mostly as oil paintings. His paintings caused a sensation when shown for the first time in Johannesburg. He later also produced two commissioned murals – Disembarkation at Cape Town, 19th Century, and Embarking at Cape Town, 20th Century – for the Cape Town Post Office. Initially he also produced cartoons and caricatures about life in Cape Town. His younger brother was the architect and painter Gordon Pilkington (1886-1968).

The painting with the full title Yacht Racing: Around and Away is confirmed to be the one submitted in 1948. It is dated 1947, painted in oil on canvas, 43.5 x 62.5cm.