Eileen Aldridge facts for kids

Eileen Aldridge (born 20 July 1916, died 1990) was a talented British artist. She was also an expert at fixing old artworks. On top of that, she wrote and drew pictures for children's books!

About Eileen Aldridge

Eileen Aldridge was born in a town called Teddington in England. Her father was a company director and also an explorer, which sounds exciting!

Her Art Education

Eileen loved art from a young age. She studied at the Kingston School of Art from 1933 to 1938. After that, she continued her art education at the Regent Street Polytechnic. These schools helped her become a skilled artist.

Showing Her Art

Throughout her career, Eileen showed her beautiful paintings in many important places. Most of her works were watercolours. She exhibited at the famous Royal Academy, which is a big deal for artists in Britain. She also showed her art with groups like the New English Art Club and the Women's International Art Club. Her paintings were also seen at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and in well-known galleries like the Leger Gallery and the Leicester Galleries.

Art Restoration Experts

Eileen's husband was also an artist named William Ware. Together, they became very good at restoring old artworks. This means they carefully repaired and cleaned things like old paintings, picture frames, and even delicate porcelain. They were so good that national museums and galleries in Britain asked them for help!

Eileen didn't just restore porcelain; she also wrote a book about it. This shows how much she knew about the material.

Writing and Illustrating for Kids

Besides her painting and restoration work, Eileen had another special talent: she wrote and illustrated books for children! She created these books for the Medici Society, a well-known publisher. Imagine being able to draw amazing pictures and write fun stories for kids – that was Eileen!

Where She Lived

For a long time, Eileen lived and worked in London. She was based at the Ware Galleries on Fulham Road. However, before and during World War II, she lived in St Ives in Cornwall. St Ives is a beautiful coastal town known for its art community. While there, she joined the St Ives Society of Artists. Her work Minster Lovell was even highlighted as one of the best pieces at their 1939 Autumn Exhibition. Later in her life, after living in London again, Eileen moved to Burwash in Sussex.