JENNIFER DICKSON SWEETMAN

Jennifer Dickson, 88, one of Canada's most distinguished printmakers and photographers, passed through the gates of one of the magnificent gardens she enjoyed photographing on January 18, 2025, at the age of 88 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She has finally been reunited with her devoted husband, Ronald Sweetman, and can rest in the garden to absorb its beauty forever. Artist, teacher, trailblazer, activist, sorceress, mentor, provocateur, friend, mother and wife, Jennifer wore many hats in her long and productive life. She is known the world over for her hauntingly beautiful and meticulous hand-tinted etchings, prints, photographs, and watercolour paintings. Jennifer was born in the tiny town of Piet Retief, South Africa, in 1936. While bedridden with polio as a child, Jennifer was given some art supplies by her mother, unexpectedly launching a prolific art career that spanned seven decades. Although not technically a time traveller, Jennifer would sometimes say she felt like an 18th century woman in a 20th century world. She is survived by her son, Bill Sweetman and daughter-in-law, Yvonne Bobrowski; her sister, Reverend Jo Tyers; her brother, Ian Dickson and sister-in-law, Debi Dickson; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Jennifer was predeceased by her parents, John Liston Dickson and Margaret Joan Dickson; her brother, John Dickson; and her sisters, Jill Sinclair and Jane Dickson. In addition to being a loving and loyal wife to her husband, Ron, Jennifer was a wonderfully unconventional mother to their son, Bill (who she insisted call her by her first name). She was also a dedicated servant to several cats over the years. She loved a stiff gin and tonic, Indian cuisine, and any opportunity to make an entrance wearing a statement hat. She also loved travel (especially to Italy and Turkey), had a caustic sense of humour, and practiced white magic - which might explain why her hair naturally remained a dark chestnut brown (with no grey!) to the day she died. Jennifer's work as a teacher inspired countless artists and creators, and she was a mentor to many up-and-coming artists. She was a gracious host of dinner parties, a generous friend, an avid gardener, and a discerning collector of cobalt glass. Never one to mince words, Jennifer was also an outspoken and tireless champion of artists' rights - particularly equal rights for women artists. Jennifer Dickson had already established an international reputation as an artist before emigrating to Canada in 1969. She studied at Goldsmiths' College School of Art (University of London, England) from 1954-1959; she was an Associate of the prestigious graphic workshop Atelier 17 in Paris, studying under the late S.W. Hayter, from 1960-1965. She lived and worked in England, France, Jamaica, and the United States. She became a Canadian Citizen in 1974. Jennifer Dickson had more than 60 one-person exhibitions in six countries and participated in more than 400 group exhibitions. She was a guest lecturer at nine US Universities, and was invited to speak across Canada at various art schools and universities. In 1976, Jennifer Dickson was elected a Royal Academician (RA) by The Royal Academy of Arts in London, England. She was the only Canadian in the 200-year history of this prestigious institution to have been so honoured. In 1995 she was named to the Order of Canada (CM). Jennifer, who never knew the meaning of the word "retire," published her final book of poetry and imagery, "Poems for a Phantom Lover," in 2023 at the age of 86. Her family would like to thank her primary care doctor, Dr. Fawzi Mankal, and her cardiologist, Dr. Mohammed Hafez, for their many years of dignified and empathetic care of Jennifer. Many thanks as well to the compassionate staff at Colonel By and Lord Lansdowne retirement homes, as well as the palliative care team at the Bruyère Health Saint-Vincent Hospital in Ottawa. In keeping with her wishes, there will be no visitation or funeral service. There will, however, be a joyous public celebration of life cocktail party to be held at a future date in Ottawa. Please visit www.JDparty.com for further details about this event. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CARFAC (www.carfac.ca), Ottawa School of Art (www.artottawa.ca), or the Ottawa Art Gallery (www.oaggao.ca). For more information about Jennifer Dickson's career and artwork, please visit her official website: www.JenniferDickson.com (Photo by Dennis Toff). Condolences/Tributes/Donations www.hpmcgarry.ca 613-233-1143