Margaret Chapman

Margaret Chapman née Duxbury (18 November 1940 28 July 2000) was a British illustrator and painter. Born in Darwen, Lancashire, her skill at painting was obvious from an early age and she studied at Liverpool College of Art alongside Stuart Sutcliffe with whom she competed for 'best painter in class' and John Lennon. Her work was often reproduced as limited edition prints and sold in more than 50 countries.

Her oil and gouache paintings often featured Edwardian street scenes, usually in the north of England and drew comparisons with L. S. Lowry and interest in her work has increased more than a decade after her death.

Well known works include 'Piccadilly Circus', 'The New Rover' and 'Pretty Polly' with typically busy crowds fascinated with a snake oil salesman or itinerant gas iron seller.

In 1978 she published a book of her paintings called When Steak was a Shilling a Pound which included her own prose and thoughts on the Edwardian period.

She was married and had four children. Her great-uncle was Charles Lightoller who was Second Officer of The Titanic and a survivor of its sinking.

She introduced John Lennon to J.D. Salinger's novel The Catcher in the Rye while they were students in Liverpool, where she was affectionately called 'Duckie'.[1][2][3]

Website: margaretchapmanart.com

References

  1. http://www.triumphpc.com/mersey-beat/beatles/duckie.shtml
  2. http://www.blackburncitizen.co.uk/news/2240149.john_lennon_a_darwen_artist_and_the_catcher_in_the_rye/
  3. http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/2240149.john_lennon_a_darwen_artist_and_the_catcher_in_the_rye/