Dorothy Blackham facts for kids

Dorothy Blackham (born March 1, 1896 – died September 4, 1975) was a talented Irish artist. She was an illustrator, painter, and also a teacher.

Becoming an Artist: Dorothy's Early Life and Training

Dorothy Isabel Blackham was born in Rathmines, Dublin, on March 1, 1896. Her father, Charles H. Blackham, worked at a railway station. Her mother was Jane Ruthven Blackham. Dorothy came from a family with some artists.

Dorothy started her art training at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA). There, she studied with a teacher named Dermod O'Brien. During this time, Dorothy became very interested in designing posters. She later attended the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art. She also studied at Goldsmiths College in London.

Dorothy Blackham's Artistic Journey

Dorothy Blackham was a very active artist. She showed her work and contributed to art groups all over Ireland. From 1916 to 1946, she regularly showed her art at the RHA. Her work was also displayed by other groups. These included the Ulster Society of Women Artists and the Water Colour Society of Ireland.

She also showed her art at the Tailteann Games starting in 1924. She won medals there in 1928 and 1932. Her friend, the artist Mainie Jellett, was a big influence on Dorothy. Through Mainie, Dorothy became interested in The White Stag group. She exhibited her art with them four times between 1940 and 1941.

Dorothy was also a member of the Dublin Painters' Society. She showed her work with them in the late 1930s. She was active with the Picture Hire Club from 1941 to 1942. Around this time, Dorothy tried making lino-cuts. These were large prints of landscapes.

She was a close friend of Elizabeth and Lily Yeats. Dorothy worked a lot with the Cuala Press. She created wood and lino cuts for their illustrations and greeting cards. Dorothy also made illustrations for the Cluna Press. She worked for the Irish Tourist Association. Her art appeared in The Bell magazine and The Ideal Irish Home. She designed the cover for a book called The Boyne Valley and its antiquities (1936).

Besides being an artist, Dorothy taught art in Dublin schools. She taught at Alexandra College from 1936 to 1943. She also taught at the Hall School, Monkstown.

Life in London and Continued Art

During World War II, Dorothy worked as an assistant warden. She helped at a camp for people evacuated from Gibraltar in Derry. In 1947, she married Elsner Stewart. The couple then moved to London.

In London, Dorothy continued her career as a teacher. She also kept showing her art under her maiden name, Blackham. Her work was shown by the Royal Academy of Arts. It was also displayed by the Royal West of England Academy. Other groups that showed her art included the United Society of Artists and the Royal Society of British Artists.

Dorothy's art often found inspiration in Ireland. She especially loved the north and west parts of the country. However, she also created artworks based on scenes in London and other parts of Europe.

Later Years and Artistic Legacy

Dorothy Blackham and her husband returned to Ireland in 1967. They settled in Donaghadee, County Down. In her later years, Dorothy suffered from arthritis. Despite this, she continued to paint until she passed away.

Dorothy Blackham died on September 4, 1975, in Donaghadee. After her death, two special exhibitions of her work were held. One was at Queen's University Belfast (QUB) in 1976. The other was at the Neptune Gallery in Dublin in 1977.

Examples of Dorothy's artwork are kept in several important collections. These include QUB, the Hugh Lane Gallery, and the South London Gallery. Her work is also part of the Anna Russell collection of Yeats material at the National Gallery of Ireland.