Margery Gill facts for kids

Cover illustration of Frances Hodgson Burnetts' A Little Princess, Puffin Books, 1961

Margery Jean Gill (born April 5, 1925 – died October 31, 2008) was a talented British artist. She was famous for drawing pictures in children's books. Her illustrations helped bring many stories to life for young readers.

Early Life and Art Training

Margery Gill was born in Coatbridge, Scotland, in 1925. When she was young, her family moved to Hatch End, London. Her father worked on the speaking clock at the Post Office.

Margery left school at age 14. She then went to Harrow School of Art to study art. In 1946, she continued her studies at the Royal College of Art. There, she learned about etching and engraving. That same year, she married an actor named Patrick Jordan. She also illustrated her first book, A Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson.

Illustrating Children's Books

Margery Gill worked with many different publishers. She became well-known for her unique drawing style.

Working with The Bodley Head

After drawing for Oxford University Press, Margery started working with The Bodley Head. She illustrated over 30 books for them between 1957 and 1982. These included Mr Fairweather and his Family and books by Anita Hewett.

Her drawings became very popular. She had a serious but honest way of showing children. She once said that children often take their own lives very seriously. Her style fit well with the realistic stories popular at the time.

Famous Books and Authors

Eleanor Graham, who started Puffin Books, asked Margery to illustrate several books. One famous book was a 1961 edition of A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

Margery also worked for other publishers. For Jonathan Cape, she illustrated Susan Cooper's Over Sea, Under Stone in 1965. She also drew pictures for Cooper's Dawn of Fear in 1972. For this book, she used her own memories of living in London during World War II. Susan Cooper said Margery perfectly captured the children she was writing about.

Margery often traveled to see the places where stories were set. This helped her draw the landscapes and settings accurately. A German publisher even asked her to illustrate a German version of Arthur Ransome's Swallows and Amazons.

Later Life and Legacy

Margery Gill balanced her work as an illustrator with being a mother to her two daughters. She also taught art at Maidstone College of Art. From 1969, she and her husband lived in Alpheton, Suffolk.

As time went on, her drawing style became less popular. Publishers started to prefer more cartoon-like illustrations. Also, arthritis in her hands and cataracts in her eyes made it harder for her to draw. Her last illustrated book was Pennies for the Dog in 1985.

In her retirement, Margery did volunteer work. She helped with charity collections and Meals on Wheels. She passed away on October 31, 2008.

Other artists admired Margery's work. Fellow illustrator Shirley Hughes said Margery's work was "terrific." She noted that Margery's children looked less sweet and more real. Shirley admired Margery's strong, flowing lines and how her characters stood and moved.