Thursday 12 April 2012

Audrey Weber


One of my favourite old travel guides is
Hills of the South by S.P.B.Mais,
chiefly because of the paintings by Audrey Weber.
She worked as an illustrator for the Southern Railway Company,
but I can find very little about her life.*
The Natural History Museum say she was associated with their
Palaeontology department and illustrated several of their publications.




This marine turtle painting in oil painted in 1955
is the only one I can find.


 A site called Unsung Heroines
provides this rather charming picture,
 thought to depict her working in her studio, 
dated to around 1927.
The address is 37 Queen's Gate which would have been very
conveniently situated for the Kensington Museums.






She appears to be selecting paints and
is dressed for work in an artist's smock.






I think she deserves a wider audience.
I could see her using the Brushes app
on her ipad, to good effect.
My attempts so far only bear out the findings
in this post.

*Edited to add this very helpful comment from reader Jan:

I never could resist a challenge, but you're right - she's elusive! I've tried my family history sources, and they confirm Audrey Muriel Weber was living at 37 Queens Gate in 1924. In May 1928 she had just returned from Gibraltar to London on the Rawalpindi; she was living at the same address and her profession was "artist". Later she moved to 76 Fulham Road, SW3, and from 1938-1978 she was at 44 Shrewsbury House, Cheyne Walk. There was an obituary in the Times in February 1982 when she died, aged 90, but I haven't tracked down the full text yet. I believe she was born 29 Oct 1891 at Hendon, and died 2 Feb 1982 in Salisbury. 

8 comments:

  1. This post opens up a whole can of digital worms to me........... a great big part of me wishes I had an iPad to play with, but I haven't. Hockney will have had to put a lot of work into learning how to utilise the iPad and I applaud him. This is a wonderful era in which to be alive. Today, from this very post of yours, I have learnt of a wonderful female artist. Persevere with that App Lucille.

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  2. That was a very amusing article, thanks. And I do agree about your unsung artist - lovely stuff.

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  3. Thank you so much for your visit and comment over at my place.

    I have really enjoyed having a leisurely look at your posts ... all the way back to last Christmas. The insights, variety and fine photos just kept me wondering what was posted the week before that.

    This is a grand example of how folks who don't know each other can connect.

    I had a grand time in London, and have had lots of previous grand visits no matter what the weather. Perhaps some almost forgotten grim August was the chilliest!

    Best wishes.

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  4. Very bold and linear graphic paintings although subtle at the same time.. They stand out... thank you for drawing attention to her work.
    ...she may have received more attention if she had been a man..

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  5. Wonderful work. Thank you for introducing her.

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  6. I never could resist a challenge, but you're right - she's elusive! I've tried my family history sources, and they confirm Audrey Muriel Weber was living at 37 Queens Gate in 1924. In May 1928 she had just returned from Gibraltar to London on the Rawalpindi; she was living at the same address and her profession was "artist". Later she moved to 76 Fulham Road, SW3, and from 1938-1978 she was at 44 Shrewsbury House, Cheyne Walk.

    There was an obituary in the Times in February 1982 when she died, aged 90, but I haven't tracked down the full text yet. I believe she was born 29 Oct 1891 at Hendon, and died 2 Feb 1982 in Salisbury.

    Hope this helps, at least a little.

    Jan

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  7. I did enjoy seeing the posters, they reminded me of a slower time and a countryside that was shown as unsullied.

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