M. Alison Atkins
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(Margaret) Alison Atkins (b. 1878, Fulham) was an artist and illustrator.
In 1881 the two year old Margaret Atkins was living at 44 Loftus Road with her parents Arthur and Kate, two siblings (Arthur who was a clerk in an insurance office and Mary) and two servants (Mary A Phillips - Cook, Mabel Crutchley - housemaid).
In 1905 she contributed some pen and ink illustrations to a book called "Mohamed Aben Ahmar or The Invention of the Moorish Arcg" by Stephen Syeds.
By 1908 she had moved to 90 Burnt Ash Hill, Lee, London and was displaying her art at local exhibitions. Whilst there she exhibited Bringing home the christmas tree, An elf maiden, Titania's baby. (It is assumed that Titania's baby is a reference to Lewis Carroll's "Sylvie and Bruno". [1].)
Around 1917 Atkins was living at 35 Leamington Road Villas, Westbourne Park, W11 and in 1917 exhibited a painting called Sweet William Cottage.
Atkins' most active period was between 1906 and 1919.
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[edit] Known works
- An example of her illustrations can be found in Mohamed Aben Ahmar or "The invention of the Moorish arch: a legend" by Stephen Syeds. The book was published in 1905 by Leadenhall Press LTD in London and Charles Scribner's Sons in New York.
- "Listen to My Sweet Pipings". Pen and ink and watercolour over pencil on drawing board. 26.1 × 14.3cm [2] (not to be confused with a painting of the same name by John William Waterhouse). The copyright for the image is current held with the York Museum Trust.
[edit] Family
Margaret's father was Arthur Nias Atkins (b. 1844, Epsom - d. 13 Dec 1923). Arthur Atkins was a tea dealer and by 1901 was merchant and wholesale dealer.
Arthur married Kate Caroline Bingley Melanie Bollaert (b. 1850, Hackney) in the Marylebone registration district between January and March if 1873.
Paddington directories showed that in 1928 Arthur Atkins was living at 35 Leamington Road Villas, and whis was still the case in 1919 but was no longer listed at that address by 1920.
The National Probate Registers contain the following entry:
- "ATKINS, Arthur Nias of 4 Rectory-place Chislehurst Kent died 13 December 1923. Probate London 16 Jan 1924 to Arthur Bollaert Atkins gentleman and Percy Phillpott Eastern. Effects £1653 0s 1d.
It is believed that Mary Francisca Atkins (b. 1874, Woolwich) was her sister as she was also registered at the same addresses. Mary Francisca Atkins was also showing handicrafts at the Society of Women Artists exhibitions in 1910, 1917, 1918 and 1919. Neither Mary or Margaret was described as a member of the Society of Women Artists.
[edit] References
- The Society of Women Artist Exhibitors 1855-1996 by Charles Baile de Laperriere.
- National probate calendars (1918 onwards)
- Paddington registers
- Bromley directories
- Birth Record: Sep 1878. District: Fulham. Volume: 1a. Page: 200 (Maraget Alison Atkins)
- Birth Record: Sep 1874. District: Woolwich. Volume: 1d. Page: 933 (Mary Francisca Atkins)
- Birth Record: Sep 1844. District: Epsom. Volume: 4. Page: 127 (Arthur Nias Atkins)
- Marriage Record: Mar 1873. District: Marylebone. Volume: 1a: Page: 768 (Arthu/Bollaert)
