Phyllis Bone facts for kids

Phyllis Mary Bone (born February 15, 1894 – died July 12, 1972) was a Scottish sculptor from the 1900s. She became famous for being the first woman elected to the Royal Scottish Academy. While she mostly made small animal statues, she also created larger works for important places.

Early Life and Love for Animals

Phyllis Bone was born in Hornby, Lancashire, England. Her father was Dr. Douglas Mayhew Bone. From a young age, Phyllis loved animals very much. Her first models for drawing were her own pet pony and retriever dog.

She also enjoyed visiting the Edinburgh Zoo. There, she spent time studying and drawing animals. This deep interest in how animals looked and moved led her to become an animal sculptor.

Education and Training

Phyllis went to St George School for Girls in Edinburgh. After that, she studied sculpture at Edinburgh College of Art from 1912 to 1918. Her teachers included Alexander Carrick, Pilkington Jackson, and Percy Portsmouth.

In 1918, she earned her Diploma in Sculpture. During her studies, she traveled to Paris twice. She received a special scholarship to train as an animal sculptor under Edouard Navellier. This training helped her become an expert in sculpting animals.

Becoming a Famous Sculptor

During the First World War, Phyllis Bone worked as a driver for the Women's Legion. After the war, she quickly became well-known in Scotland for her animal sculptures.

She first worked at the Holyrood Pottery, but soon started her own independent studio. She lived at 5 Alva Street in Edinburgh until 1935. In 1939, she was chosen as an associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy. The next year, in 1940, she made history. She became the first woman ever to be a full member of the Academy.

Phyllis first shared studios with other famous Scottish artists at the Albert Gallery in Edinburgh. Later, from 1935 to 1950, she worked mostly at the Dean studios in Dean Village.

After 1946, she started spending more time in Galloway. She bought a second home in Newton Stewart. In Edinburgh, she kept only a small apartment. By 1950, she left Edinburgh for good. She moved to an artists’ community near the Solway Firth in Kirkcudbright.

Phyllis Bone also took part in the art competition at the 1948 Summer Olympics. She passed away in Dumfries Hospital and is buried in Kirkcudbright. A portrait of her, painted by Robert Sivell, is kept in the Gracefield Collection in Dumfries.

Notable Public Artworks

Phyllis Bone created many important sculptures for public places. Here are some of her well-known works:

• Lion and Unicorn: These sculptures guard the entrance of the Scottish National War Memorial (1924-1927). She also made small roundels inside the memorial. These show animals like carrier pigeons and mules that helped troops during World War I.
• Animal Masks: She created animal masks for the Metropolitan-Vickers Building (now Fortune House) in Glasgow (1925-1927).
• Church Restoration: She helped restore St John’s Church in Perth (1926).
• University Animal Carvings: She carved animals for the Zoology Building at Edinburgh University’s Kings Buildings (1928-1929).
• Cottage Home Carvings: She made animal carvings for the Lady Sanderson Cottage Homes in Galashiels (1930-1933).
• Royal Coat of Arms: She worked on the Royal Coat of Arms, which includes the lion and the unicorn, at St Andrews House in Edinburgh (1936-1939).
• Tolbooth Lettering: She created the lettering on the Kirkcudbright Tolbooth.

Images for kids

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  Elephant roundel by Phyllis Bone on Ashworth Laboratories, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh

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  Aardvark by Phyllis Bone