Kathleen Bridle facts for kids

Kathleen Mabel Bridle ARUA (born 19 November 1897 – died 25 May 1989) was a British artist and teacher. She was very important to many artists in Northern Ireland. Some famous artists she influenced include William Scott and T.P. Flanagan.

Early Life and Art School

Kathleen Bridle was born in Swalecliffe, Kent, England, on 19 November 1897. She was the middle of three daughters. Her father, James Bridle, was an Irish coastguard. Her mother, Janet Bridle, was a school teacher.

Moving Around and Discovering Art

Because of her father's job, Kathleen's family moved often. They lived in places like Gravesend and Winterton-on-Sea. In 1913, they finally settled in Holyhead. Kathleen and her sisters were taught at home by their mother. They also went to local schools. In 1910, Kathleen attended a private school in Ramsgate. Here, her amazing talent for art was first noticed.

Studying Art in Dublin and London

In 1915, Kathleen started studying at the Dublin Metropolitan School of Art (DMSA). She lived with her aunt and uncle in Dublin. In 1917, she won a scholarship to train as a teacher. This helped pay for her last four years at the school. She won a prize for her design work in 1917. By 1918, she had finished her art certificate course.

In 1920, Kathleen won the Taylor scholarship. This was for her artwork based on the Greek story Leda and the Swan. This scholarship allowed her to go to the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London in 1921. While there, she became good friends with John Hunter. He gave her the nickname "Pindi," which she used for the rest of her life. She also became friends with the famous sculptor Henry Moore.

First Exhibitions and Awards

Kathleen's first painting shown at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) was The Checkered Cloth in 1921. She continued to show her art with the RHA until 1939. Her enamel plaque called The Mermaid was completed with help from Percy Oswald Reeves. It was shown in Dublin, Paris, and won first prize at the Tailteann Games in 1924. In 1922, she sold five landscape paintings at an exhibition in Dublin. In 1923, Kathleen earned her teacher's diploma. She also received another scholarship to continue her studies. While still in London, she taught evening classes at the Elephant and Castle School of Art from 1924 to 1925. In 1924, she won the George Clausen prize at the RCA for her portrait of Norah McGuinness.

Becoming a Professional Artist

Kathleen Bridle worked briefly as a glass painter in Dublin for Harry Clarke's studio. Harry Clarke introduced her to the writer Seán O'Casey. Kathleen later took over O'Casey's home when he moved to London around 1925 or 1926.

Life and Teaching in Enniskillen

In 1926, Kathleen moved to Enniskillen, County Fermanagh. She started teaching at the Enniskillen Technical School. She also taught part-time at other schools, like the Collegiate Grammar School. Enniskillen became her home for the rest of her life.

Kathleen kept painting and became a big influence on young artists. She gave art lessons to William Scott. She also introduced him to modern artists through books and painted outdoors with him. Around 1927, she painted a portrait of Scott. Another portrait of her friend John Hunter was shown at the RHA that same year.

Exhibitions and Travel

In 1928, Kathleen Bridle had her first solo art show in Enniskillen Town Hall. This show included paintings of still life, portraits, and landscapes. Her painting The Inner Harbour, Holyhead was shown at an exhibition of Irish art. She also contributed to the Olympic festival in Amsterdam in 1928.

Kathleen was one of the artists who started the Ulster Unit in 1934. Her work was featured in their very first exhibition. She regularly showed her art with the Ulster Academy of Arts from 1931 to 1949. She became an associate member in 1935 and an honorary member in 1962. In 1936, she had an exhibition in Belfast called Paintings of Fermanagh, Donegal, and Sligo. This show included works like Donegal Town (1936).

In 1937, Kathleen visited Italy. She studied the famous frescoes by Giotto at the Arena chapel in Padua. From 1943 to 1944, her art was part of a traveling exhibition of living Irish artists. This was organized by the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts. She continued to exhibit with them until 1953. Kathleen loved to travel and studied art all over Europe. She even toured Yugoslavia by bus when she was in her 60s!

Later Career and Collaborations

In 1947, Kathleen Bridle had her second big exhibition at the CEMA gallery in Belfast. It showed landscapes from Fermanagh and Anglesey. She also had a solo show at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery in 1950. Her work was shown at the Royal Ulster Academy's annual exhibitions from 1950 to 1979. In 1951, five of her paintings were included in the first Contemporary Ulster Group exhibition in Belfast.

In 1955, she was given a full-time teaching job at the Collegiate Grammar School. She was featured in Contemporary Art Group exhibitions in Belfast in 1957 and 1958. A solo exhibition of 13 of her paintings was held in the Piccolo gallery, Belfast, in 1958. When Kathleen retired from the Collegiate School in 1963, the Arts Council held an exhibition of her work in the town hall. She continued to teach part-time at the convent grammar school from 1964. She helped students get ready for their art exams. Some of her artworks from this time show her travels to places like New Zealand and French New Guinea.

In 1973, Kathleen worked with her former students, William Scott and T.P. Flanagan, for an exhibition. This show was held at the Arts Council gallery in Belfast. In 1986, she was asked to paint The Cathedral from the Convent of Mercy for St Macartin's cathedral in Enniskillen.

Influence and Legacy

Kathleen Bridle worked as an art organizer in Fermanagh from 1945 to 1951. She encouraged art teachers to teach a wider range of art topics. She taught T.P. Flanagan at Enniskillen Technical College until 1949. She inspired his love for watercolour painting. Flanagan and Bridle often painted together in Enniskillen, looking out over Lough Erne. To celebrate her 90th birthday, Flanagan gave her a self-portrait he had painted.

Kathleen's last public appearance was in 1989. She attended a viewing of David Hammond's film, Reminiscence by Kathleen Bridle, at the Ardowen Theatre in Enniskillen. Kathleen Bridle passed away at Lakeside nursing home in Bellanaleck on 25 May 1989. She is buried in Breandrum cemetery.

Remembering Kathleen Bridle

In 1998, a large exhibition of her work was held at the Fermanagh County Museum. This exhibition later traveled to the Ulster Museum and the Armagh County Museum. Kathleen Bridle was mainly known for her watercolour landscapes. However, she also painted portraits using oils. Her self-portrait from 1948 is kept in The National Self-Portrait Collection of Ireland. On 15 November 2010, the Ulster History Circle placed a blue plaque on her former home. This plaque remembers her important contributions.