James Swinton Diston was born in Leven, Scotland, in 1857. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy, Edinburgh, and became an enthusiastic watercolourist. Much of his work was exhibited in Royal Academy and Royal Scottish Academy shows. He migrated to Australia in 1886. In the early 1900s he exhibited widely, including the Victorian Artists Society from 1914 to 1917 showing scenes of Port Phillip Bay, Indian and Japanese scenes and coastal landscapes. He also exhibited in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Hobart, Launceston and Broken Hill, and was a well-known art gallery guide and lecturer.
James Diston is one of the most prolific of the artists listed in our database, with the number of works offered for sale by auction since 1972 of 421, of which 307 (73%) were sold. The highest price recorded for the artist is $3,000 for The City of Adelaide sold by Sotheby's in October 1986. This year one work has been offered for sale.
James Swinton Diston is listed in the following standard biographical references:
Could the second and subsequent works by this artist sold after June 9, 2010 for over $1,000 be liable for the Artists' Resale Royalty? More info…
No, ineligible. The artist has been deceased for more than 70 years.
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