Evelyn Gibbs facts for kids

Evelyn May Gibbs (born May 5, 1905 – died February 27, 1991) was a talented English artist and a dedicated teacher. She is known for her amazing murals and paintings.

Meet Evelyn Gibbs: Artist and Teacher

Evelyn Gibbs painted WVS Clothing Exchange in 1943. It shows women helping each other during World War II.

Evelyn Gibbs loved art from a young age. She studied at two famous art schools: the Liverpool School of Art and the Royal College of Art. In 1929, she won a special award called the Prix de Rome Scholarship. This award allowed her to study engraving in Italy for two years.

After her studies, Evelyn became a teacher. She worked at a school for children with special needs. She even wrote a book about teaching art, which included drawings made by her students. Later, she became a lecturer at Goldsmiths College, helping to train new teachers.

Art During World War II

During World War II, Goldsmiths College moved to Nottingham for safety. While there, Evelyn started a group called the Midlands Group of Artists. They held art shows in a large empty building. This group grew and helped many artists in the area.

The Midlands Group of Artists painted murals in five different places. Murals are large paintings on walls. For a long time, people thought these murals were lost. But in 2009, something exciting happened! Workers found two of Evelyn's murals in St Martin's Church in Bilborough, Nottingham. These beautiful murals were carefully fixed and are now on display for everyone to see.

In 1943, Evelyn also created art for the War Artists' Advisory Committee. This committee hired artists to show what life was like during the war. Evelyn made drawings about blood transfusion stations, which were very important for helping injured people. She also painted WVS Clothing Exchange (1943). This painting showed the important work of the Women's Voluntary Service (WVS), who helped people during the war.

Life After the War

After the war ended, Evelyn stayed in Nottingham. She married Hugh Willat, who later became a leader at the Arts Council. Evelyn continued to draw and paint for many years. She created art almost until she passed away in 1991.

Evelyn's Art Collection

In 2000, Aberystwyth University bought a large collection of Evelyn Gibbs's artwork. This collection included 98 prints, drawings, and watercolors from her whole career. These artworks were put together for a special exhibition in 2001, so people could see her amazing talent.

Published Works

• The Teaching of Art in Schools, 1934.