M. E. ELDRIDGE - TREECREEPER [Original Watercolour and Pencil]

United Kingdom, 1978. Painting. Illus. by Mildred Elsie Eldridge. Near Fine. Framed. Signed by THE ARTIST. Original. 175mm x 230mm. Original watercolour and pencil, detailed study of a Treecreeper. The image measures approximately 175mm x 230mm (Landscape) plus a very good gilt frame, an acid free mount with ruled lines giving a total dimension of 360mm x 415mm. The work is in near fine condition, paper a little worn, fine crease line to the top edge, colours remain vibrant, no toning or spotting. An example of Eldridge's superb work. [Mildred Elsie Eldridge (1909-1991) Mildred Eldridge was a British artist, mural painter and book illustrator. born in Wimbledon in London. She attended Wimbledon School of Art before studying at the Royal College of Art where she was taught by William Rothenstein and Eric Ravilious. She later studied in Rome and on return to England in 1936 she worked, along with Evelyn Dunbar, Charles Mahoney and others, on a large scale set of murals based on Aesop's fables at Brockley County Secondary School, now the upper site of Prendergast School in Brockley. She also worked with the Recording Britain and the Recording Wales projects throughout the 1940s to create depictions of war damaged, or otherwise at risk buildings. Eldridge had a number of very successful solo exhibitions during her career, notably at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth during 1959 and at the Powys Fine Art Room in Welshpool in 1961. She exhibited with the Royal Watercolour Society, Royal Cambrian Academy, Royal Scottish Academy and at the Royal Academy. A retrospective was held during 2013 at Plas Glyn-y-Weddow in Llanbedrog.The National Portrait Gallery, London holds a self-portrait of her and her husband in its collection, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff hold other examples of her work. Along with fine original watercolours of birds and flowers she also illustrated many books, worked with Medici cards and produced several of her own books. She was married to the well know poet R.S. Thomas.] .