Edward Frank Gillett facts for kids

Edward Frank Gillett (born July 23, 1874 – died May 1, 1927) was a talented British artist and illustrator. Many people knew him as Frank Gillett. He used different art materials like pen and ink, pastels, watercolors, and oil paints. Even though he passed away in 1927, two of his artworks were chosen for the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics.

Early Life and Education

Edward Frank Gillett was born in a place called Worlingham in Suffolk, England. He went to school at Gresham's School in Norfolk.

Becoming an Artist

When he was younger, in 1891, Gillett worked as a clerk in Lambeth, London. But he really wanted to be an artist. So, in 1896, he decided to focus on his art full-time.

He started by drawing cartoons for a magazine called Fun. Then, in 1898, he became a full-time illustrator for The Daily Graphic newspaper. He worked there for ten years. After that, he worked for other magazines like Black and White and Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News until 1923.

Gillett was also a member of a group of artists in London called the Langham Sketch Club. In 1909, he was chosen to be a member of the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours, which is a big honor for a watercolor artist. In 1916, he left London and moved to a farm in Aldeby, Norfolk, and later to Beccles.

What Kind of Art Did He Make?

Frank Gillett was known for being very good at drawing funny pictures of people, called caricatures. He loved the countryside in Norfolk, and many of his artworks showed rural life. He often drew scenes of sports, especially fox hunting and hare coursing.

His art has been shown in famous places like the Royal Academy of Arts and the Walker Art Gallery. You can also find his work in the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. Besides his own art, Gillett also drew pictures for many books. He illustrated 25 books by G. A. Henty, and also books by Robert Louis Stevenson and Percy F. Westerman.

Olympic Artist

One of the most interesting facts about Frank Gillett is his connection to the Olympics. Two of his artworks, named La Finale and Contre l'horizon, were entered into the art competition at the 1928 Summer Olympics. This competition was for "Mixed Painting, Drawings And Water Colours."

Even though he didn't win a medal, it's special because he was one of the very few artists whose work was shown in the Olympics after they had passed away. He was also the only artist to represent Great Britain in this way.

Family Life

Frank Gillett got married to Elsie Joanne Bastard in 1903. Sadly, she passed away in 1912. Two years later, in 1914, he married Margaret Mickelburgh in Aldeby.