John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868) – IMS Photography

Sunderland Pier and Lighthouse

Ian Malpass-Scott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:55 +0000

A broken mast at the edge of the pier shows the dangers of the North East coast where there were many wrecks.

Groups of figures look out to sea, perhaps waiting for a ship to come home.

On the left is the wooden 18th century Tide Light which stood at the end of the South Pier in Sunderland Harbour. The Tide Light was replaced in 1856 as part of a gradual series of improvements made to the harbour.

Provenance: Given by the Port of Sunderland Authority, 1973

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1845

Image Details
Date: 20 April 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Sunderland Harbour

Ian Malpass-Scott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:55 +0000

Carmichael is one of the North East’s favourite painters because of his technically brilliant scenes of familiar local landmarks.

The view seen here shows the inside the piers looking out to sea at the mouth of the River Wear.

This picture was painted in his London studio working from sketches he had made in the 1830s.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on board
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1866

Image Details
Date: 20 April 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 320
Licensing: Image of a Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Sunderland Harbour

Ian Malpass-Scott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:55 +0000

Carmichael was born in Newcastle. His father was a ship’s carpenter, and he was apprenticed to a shipbuilder in his youth.

At the age of 23, he set up a painting workshop, sharing the premises Blackett Street, Newcastle with the painter Thomas Richardson, Senior.

It has been suggested that Richardson may have been his teacher.

Carmichael left Newcastle to travel throughout Italy.

By 1847 he had returned to Britain and set up a studio in London. He was very prolific and a regular exhibitor of marine works.

Provenance: Given by the Port of Sunderland Authority, 1973

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on board
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1862

Entrance to Sunderland Harbour

Ian Malpass-Scott — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 15:54:55 +0000

Ships often required the aid of a river pilot to enter port safely. The small rowing boats in the painting are probably ferrying pilots to and from ships at the mouth of the Wear.

Carmichael was born in Newcastle. By his early 20s he had established his own studio in Newcastle, and he began exhibiting in 1825. In 1846 he moved to London where he worked successfully until 1862.

Provenance: Given by the Port of Sunderland Authority, 1973

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on board
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1862

Image Details
Date: 20 April 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/25s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Sunderland Old Pier and Lighthouse with Ryhope Church in distance

Ian Malpass-Scott — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:54:55 +0000

Provenance: Bequest from George E. Henderson, 1937

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1840

Image Details
Date: 6 March 2026
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Wide Camera 26mm ƒ/1.8
Focal Length: 26mm
Aperture: ƒ/1.8
Shutter Speed: 1/37s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.

The Entrance to the Tyne

Ian Malpass-Scott — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:29:00 +0000

South Shields Museum & Art Gallery Collection

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, Tyne & Wear
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (follower of)
Date: Unknown

Image Details
Date: 18 September 2024
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO: 125
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.

The Opening of Sunderland South Docks, 20 June 1850

Ian Malpass-Scott — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 05:49:27 +0000

Carmichael was commissioned to record the opening of the massive Sunderland South Docks, which took place on 20 June 1850 with the ceremonial loading of coal from the new staiths. It was a major event in the history of Sunderland. George Hudson (the Railway King) had a leading part in the development of the South Dock. He is shown raising his hat, highlighted by a cloud of steam from a nearby ship.

Hudson also successfully led the project to build the Sunderland and Newcastle Railway, which is in the distance on the left.

Provenance: Given by the Port of Sunderland Authority, 1973

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Material: Oil on canvas
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1800-1868)
Date: 1850

Image Details
Date: 28 April 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 50mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/55s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens asset. This image cannot be licensed.

The Tyne

Ian Malpass-Scott — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:13:27 +0000

Carmichael sketched this scene near the Walker area of Newcastle, looking westwards towards the old Tyne Bridge. The woman standing on the shore seems to be washing some clothes in the river. Carmichael had worked in a shipyard and as a sailor before taking up painting.

Provenance: Purchased 1941

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Material: Watercolour
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868)
Date: 1828

Image Details
Date: 15 April 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/33s
ISO: 400
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Grey Street

Ian Malpass-Scott — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 18:01:27 +0000

The architect John Dobson drew the building in this view, and his friend John Wilson Carmichael added the figures.

Object description
Type: Easel painting
Location: Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear
Material: Watercolour
Artist: John Wilson Carmichael (1799-1868) and John Dobson (1787-1865)
Date: unknown

Image Details
Date: 15 April 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/56s
ISO: 500
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.

Interior of Grainger Market

Ian Malpass-Scott — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 17:59:26 +0000

The Grainger Market opened in 1835, and was a critical part of the redevelopment of central Newcastle by the businessman Richard Grainger. This picture shows the original arrangement of butchers’ shops with vegetable stalls in the centre. The architect John Dobson drew the building in this view, and his friend John Wilson Carmichael added the figures.

Provenance: Given by Councillor A.M. Sutherland 1916

Image Details
Date: 15 April 2023
Camera body: iPhone Xs
Lens: Telephoto Camera 52mm ƒ/2.4
Focal Length: 52mm
Aperture: ƒ/2.4
Shutter Speed: 1/37s
ISO: 500
Licensing: Image of a North East Museums asset. This image cannot be licensed.