Dorothy Coke facts for kids

Dorothy Josephine Coke (born April 11, 1897 – died 1979) was a talented English artist. She is best known for her amazing artwork during World War II. She was a "war artist" on the British home front. This means she painted scenes of life and work in Britain during the war.

Dorothy Coke was also a dedicated art teacher. Her paintings, especially her watercolours, are famous for looking very free and natural. They often show outdoor scenes.

Dorothy Coke: An Artist's Journey

Early Life and Art School

Dorothy Coke was born in Southend-on-Sea, England, in 1897. Her father worked as a tea exporter. When she was 17, Dorothy started studying art. She went to the famous Slade School of Art. She continued her studies there even during World War I. She was very good and even won a prize for her figure compositions.

In 1918, Dorothy tried to get a special art job. She sent some sketches to the British War Memorials Committee. They didn't choose her for that job. But soon after, a famous artist named Muirhead Bone bought two of her watercolours. These paintings became part of the Imperial War Museum collection. In 1919, she joined a group called the New English Art Club. This showed she was a recognized artist.

Painting Life During World War II

WAAF Instrument Mechanics at Work (1941) by Dorothy Coke. This painting shows women working during the war.

When World War II began, Dorothy Coke was already a well-known artist. During the war, she got a special job. The War Artists Advisory Committee asked her to paint. Her task was to show the important work women were doing. These women were helping with the war effort in many ways.

Dorothy spent time with different groups of women. She painted members of the Women's Voluntary Service. She also painted women from the Auxiliary Territorial Service. And she showed the work of the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. She even painted scenes with the Red Cross.

One of her paintings was shown in a big art exhibition. It was called Britain at War. This show opened in New York in May 1941. By the end of the war, the War Artists Advisory Committee had bought eight of Dorothy's paintings. In 1943, during the war, she was chosen to join the Royal Watercolour Society. She had already become an Associate member in 1935.

After the War: Teaching Art

After World War II ended, Dorothy Coke continued her passion for art. She became an art teacher. She taught at the Brighton College of Art. She worked there for many years. She retired from teaching in 1967.