Myra Kathleen Hughes facts for kids

Myra Kathleen Hughes (born September 9, 1877 – died August 21, 1918) was a talented Irish artist. She was especially famous for her etchings, which are a type of printmaking. Her most well-known series was called Vanishing London.

Myra's Early Life

Myra Kathleen Hughes was born in a place called Polehore, in Wexford, Ireland, on September 9, 1877. She grew up in a well-off family with a military background. Her father, Sir Frederick Hughes, was a soldier. Myra had two brothers and four sisters.

Myra went to the Westminster School of Art to study art. Later, she learned about etching and engraving at the Royal College of Art in London. Her teachers were famous artists like Frank Short and Constance Mary Pott. Myra lived in London for the rest of her life.

Her Art Career

In 1911, Myra became a member of the Royal Society of Painter Etchers and Engravers. This was a big deal because only 35 of the 258 members were women. She even became the president of this important society later on.

Myra showed her artwork in many places. These included the Royal Society of Painter Etchers and Engravers and the Royal Academy. She also exhibited at the Dudley Galleries, the Royal Hibernian Academy, and the Watercolour Society of Ireland. People thought she was one of the best artists during the British Etching revival.

What Myra Painted

Myra Hughes loved to draw and paint outdoors. She focused on both nature scenes and city views. One of her most popular art projects was Vanishing London. These were etchings of famous London buildings that were about to be torn down. She wanted to capture them before they disappeared forever.

Myra was known as a very skilled artist. She was also one of the few artists who tried using color in her prints around the year 1900. In 1917, she traveled to Palestine. She wrote and illustrated a book about her trip called Impressions of Palestine. Sadly, she got sick with tuberculosis there, and she passed away in Hindhead, Surrey, on August 21, 1918.

Myra's Art Lives On

After Myra's death, her family donated many of her prints to the British Museum. This museum now has the largest collection of her work. The National Gallery of Ireland also has two of her prints. One of them shows a famous place in Dublin called College Green. Trinity College Dublin has five etchings by Myra that show different parts of the college grounds.