Juliet Pannett facts for kids

Juliet Kathleen Pannett (born Somers) was a talented English artist. She was famous for painting portraits of many important people. She lived from 1911 to 2005.

Early Life and Artistic Start

Juliet Pannett was born in Hove, East Sussex, on July 15, 1911. She started painting when she was only three years old. By the time she was seventeen, she knew she wanted to be a professional artist.

Art School and First Jobs

In the 1920s, Juliet studied art at the Brighton College of Art. Her teacher was Louis Ginnett. When she was eighteen, she got her first art job. She was asked to draw people from Sussex for a magazine. She had her own art studio in Hove. In 1934, she became a member of the Society of Graphic Artists. She worked as a professional artist until she got married in 1938.

Family Life and Returning to Art

Juliet married Major Rick Pannett. He had been hurt in World War I. After her children were born, Juliet stopped painting for a while. But she soon started painting again, and it helped her feel much better. In 1949, her family moved to Croydon. She even built an art studio in her garage there! Later, in 1964, the Pannett family moved to Angmering in Sussex.

Painting Famous Faces

Juliet Pannett painted many well-known people. Her subjects included military leaders, film directors, and musicians.

Portraits of Notable People

Some of the famous people she painted were Field-Marshal Montgomery and film director Jean Cocteau. She also painted athlete Chris Chataway, musician Louis Armstrong, and composer Leonard Bernstein. Juliet loved cricket and drew famous cricketers like Maurice Tate and Bob Wyatt. She often said she preferred painting men. She found them "less troublesome" because they didn't ask her to hide wrinkles or double chins.

Drawing for the Illustrated London News

From 1957 to 1964, Juliet worked for the Illustrated London News. Her job was to sketch events happening in the House of Commons. This was before TV cameras were allowed inside. She would sit in the gallery and draw important moments. One famous event she drew was Winston Churchill's last appearance in the House in 1964.

Painting Prime Ministers and Royalty

Juliet later painted several British Prime Ministers. These included Alec Douglas-Home, Edward Heath, James Callaghan, and Margaret Thatcher. Alec Douglas-Home even joked that he had "the biggest head in London"! Around 1960, she also drew musicians and other figures for the Radio Times. In 1963, she sketched C. S. Lewis for The Illustrated London News.

In 1989, she painted Queen Elizabeth II for an insurance group. She had also drawn Princes Andrew and Edward before. After seeing the Queen's portrait, Prince Philip asked Juliet to draw the Queen again. This drawing was for the 25th anniversary of Malta's independence.

Achievements and Legacy

Juliet Pannett received many honors for her artistic talent.

Awards and Recognition

Because her eyesight began to fail, her last major portrait was of General Sir John Wilsey. In 1993, she was given the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This is a special award from the Queen. She was also a member of the Pastel Society. She was a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. In 1995, she received a gold medal from the Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers.

Later Life and Autobiography

When Juliet Pannett passed away in 2005, she was the oldest living artist with work in the National Portrait Gallery. Her husband had died in 1980. She was survived by her two children, who are both artists too. Her life story, called My Colourful Life, was published in 2006.