Alethea Garstin facts for kids

Alethea Garstin (1894–1978) was a talented artist and illustrator from Cornwall, England. She was known for her paintings and often showed her work at the famous Royal Academy in London from a young age.

Life of Alethea Garstin, the Artist

Alethea Garstin was born in Penzance, Cornwall, on June 1, 1894. Her father, Norman Garstin, was also a painter, and her mother was Louisa. She had an older brother named Crosbie Garstin, who became a writer.

Alethea learned how to paint from her father. They even went on trips together around France on his bicycle, where she could practice her art.

Early Exhibitions and Recognition

Alethea first showed one of her paintings at the Royal Academy in 1912. The painting was called "The Chairmakers". The president of the Royal Academy was so impressed that he wanted to meet her!

The next year, she displayed an even bigger painting. It showed the Market Place in a town called Gemene in Brittany, France.

Illustrations and Later Career

Later in her career, Alethea Garstin also created drawings for popular magazines. These included Punch and Tatler.

She continued to show her paintings at the Royal Academy until 1945. In 1949, she was chosen to be a Member of the Royal West of England Academy. This was a special honor for her artistic achievements.

Notable Art Exhibitions

Alethea Garstin's paintings were known for their "tonal" style. This means she was very good at using different shades and colors to create a sense of light and mood. She could make colors feel warm or cool in her art.

Solo Show at Adams Gallery

One of her most important exhibitions was a solo show in 1940. It took place at the Adams Gallery in Pall Mall, London. She displayed over 60 paintings there.

Some of the most famous paintings from this show were "Penzance Promenade" and "Penzance Harbour". A newspaper called the Western Morning News said that "Penzance Harbour" had a "simple and artistic" quality, like the best modern French paintings.

Joint Exhibitions

In 1945, Alethea had a joint exhibition with another artist named Gertrude Harvey. Gertrude was also a painter from Newlyn, Cornwall. Their show was held at the United Services Centre in Plymouth.

Later, in 1978, there was a special exhibition called Norman and Alethea Garstin. Two Impressionists - Father and Daughter. This show featured paintings by both Alethea and her father. It traveled to Newlyn, Bristol, Dublin, and London.

Where to See Her Art

Today, you can find paintings by Alethea Garstin in several important art collections. These include:

• The Government Art Collection
• The Bristol Museum and Art Gallery
• The Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
• The Royal West of England Academy
• The National Trust