Esmé Collings facts for kids

Arthur Albert 'Esme' Collings (born 1859 – died 28 March 1936) was an English photographer. He was also a miniaturist, meaning he painted very small, detailed portraits. Esme Collings was one of the first people to make films in England. He was part of a group of early filmmakers known as the Brighton School.

Collings was interested in making movies, possibly because he worked with another film pioneer, William Friese-Greene. However, Collings only made films for about a year. He is mostly known for his local importance in early film history.

Esme Collings' Early Life and Career

Lady Emily Jackson by Esme Collings

Woman wearing a corset by A. Esme Collings around 1900

Esme Collings was born in Weston-Super-Mare, England, in late 1859. His father, James Collings, was a bootmaker. Esme first followed in his father's footsteps, learning the bootmaking trade.

However, he had artistic dreams. His wife, Keturah Anne Beedle, whom he married in 1887, encouraged him to explore his artistic talents.

Working with William Friese-Greene

Around 1887, Collings and his brother James joined forces with film pioneer William Friese-Greene. They ran two photography studios in London. One was on New Bond Street and the other on Piccadilly.

The next year, their partnership, Friese Greene & Collings, opened a third studio in London. They also opened a branch in Hove. However, Friese-Greene was not very professional and had money problems. Because of this, Collings ended their partnership by the end of that year.

Collings kept control of the Bond Street and Hove studios. At first, he ran them with his brother under the name James Whyte Collings & A. Esme Collings Ltd. From 1890 onwards, the business was called Arthur Esme Collings Limited.

Life in Brighton and Hove

By 1891, Arthur Collings was living in Brighton with his wife. Records show him as an Artist Photographer. Their son, Arthur Cyril Esme Collings, was born there the next year.

Around 1893, Collings moved his studio to 120 Western Road, Hove. He kept this studio open under his name until World War I.

Esme Collings' Film Work

By the summer of 1896, Collings had started making films. He lived in Hove at the time. Some of his early films included Railway Scene, which showed a train arriving at The Dyke railway station. This film was similar to the famous Train Pulling into a Station by the Lumière Brothers.

He also made A Victorian Lady in Her Boudoir and The Broken Melody. The latter featured the Dutch cellist Auguste van Biene. On September 18, Collings sent his camera to a local engineer named Alfred Darling for repairs. Darling might have even supplied the camera to Collings.

Darling later made his own film equipment. He also helped other film pioneers like George Albert Smith and James Williamson improve their cameras. Collings' films were shown to the public starting October 19. They were part of an eight-week show at Bristol's Empire Palace of Varieties.

Later Film Projects

In 1897, Collings made three short films based on a popular song called Simon the Cellarer. These films were shown by Lewis Sealy with live singers performing the song. The next year, Collings' films were shown again in Bristol.

After 1898, Collings stopped making films. He decided to focus on painting miniature portraits instead.

Leaving Photography

By 1906, Collings had left the photography business. He closed a second studio he had opened in Hove in 1902. He left his Western Road studio in the care of Richard Berwick Hope.

Collings then moved back to London to focus on his painting. The company Esme Collings (Hove) Ltd closed its London branch in 1913. The Hove branch closed sometime after 1915.

Esme Collings passed away on March 28, 1936, at his home in Eastbourne, Sussex.

Esme Collings' Family

Collings' wife, Keturah Collings, was also a talented artist. She encouraged him to follow his artistic dreams. Keturah worked as a photographer and portrait artist. She had several studios in London from 1905 until her death in 1948.

Esme Collings' Legacy

The important early film work of Esme Collings was remembered in a 1966 BBC Television show. The program was called It Began in Brighton. It also featured the work of other pioneers like James Williamson and George Albert Smith.

Selected Films by Esme Collings

Esme Collings made many short films, often called "actualities." These were like early documentaries, showing real-life scenes. Many of his films are now lost.