Nicolette Macnamara facts for kids

Nicolette Macnamara (born February 1, 1911, died May 10, 1987) was a talented British artist and writer. She was also involved with an organization called PEN International, which supports writers around the world.

About Nicolette Macnamara

Nicolette Macnamara was the oldest of four children. Her father, Francis Macnamara, was an Irish poet. Her mother, Mary Yvonne Majolier, came from families with both Irish and French backgrounds.

Early Life and Moving Around

In 1916, Nicolette's father left the family. He went on many adventures, even trying to create his own 'Republic of Macnamaraland'. This meant Nicolette's family faced difficult times and had to move often. They lived in France with her mother's family for a while.

In 1923, they settled in Blashford, a village in the New Forest area of England. This was near a large property called Fryern Court.

Bohemian Life and Learning

Fryern Court was home to famous artist Augustus John and his friends. They lived a "bohemian" lifestyle, which means they were artistic and lived in an unconventional way. Nicolette and her siblings often visited this lively household.

Nicolette didn't have much formal schooling. She didn't learn to read until she was twelve years old! However, she learned a lot from her surroundings. She gained a love for art from the artists at Fryern Court. She also developed a passion for nature, especially birds, by exploring the New Forest. She did have short periods of formal art classes in Cannes and Paris.

Becoming an Artist

When Nicolette was sixteen, Augustus John helped her get into the Slade School of Fine Art. This was a very famous art school. There, she met other talented students like William Coldstream and Anthony Devas. She married Anthony Devas in 1931.

Nicolette did very well at the Slade. Throughout the 1930s, she started her career as an artist. Her paintings were shown in important exhibitions. These included the New English Art Club, the Royal Academy, and the London Group. Just before World War Two, she had her own art show at the Storran Gallery.

Switching to Writing

After the war, Nicolette decided to focus on writing stories. Her first novel, Bonfire, was published in 1958. It was very popular and received good reviews. Even famous poet John Betjeman praised it in the Daily Telegraph newspaper.

Her most famous book was Two Flamboyant Fathers. This book was about her own unusual childhood. It focused on both her father and Augustus John, who was like a second father figure to her. For several years, Nicolette also worked at the Natural History Museum. She studied and sorted birds' eggs there.

Later Life and Legacy

Anthony Devas passed away in 1958. Several years later, Nicolette married Rupert Shephard. He was also an artist and had been a student with her at the Slade. Rupert was also a widower with three children.

Nicolette and Rupert made their home in Chelsea, London. Their house became a popular place for many artists to gather. Nicolette became very active in English PEN and PEN International. She often spoke at their events and conferences. In 1987, her artwork was shown in an exhibition featuring former Slade students. Nicolette's younger sister, Caitlin, married the famous poet Dylan Thomas.

Published Works

• Bonfire (1958)
• Nightwatch (1961)
• Two Flamboyant Fathers (1966)
• Black Eggs (1970)
• Susanna's Nightingales (1978)
• Pegeen Crybaby (1986)