Dora Batty

Dora Margaret Batty (12 January 1891 – 10 July 1966) was a British designer, working in illustration, poster design, pottery and textiles.[1][2][3]

Biography

Batty was born in Colchester, Essex,[4][5][6] the youngest of three daughters of Rev. Thomas Batty[7] and Elizabeth Cooke Hopwood Batty. Her father, a Congregational minister, was pastor for 40 years at Stockwell Congregational Chapel in Colchester.[8][9] She attended the Chelmsford School of Science and Art,[10] where she won some prizes.[11]

Batty designed posters for the Underground Group and for London Transport between 1921 and 1938, producing over 50 different designs in a variety of different styles.[12][13][14] From 1932, she taught in the School of Textiles at the Central School of Arts and Crafts.[15] In 1950, she was appointed the Head of School, apost she held until she retired in 1958.[3][16]

Batty also designed textiles for Helios and ceramics for the Poole Pottery and for Carter & Co, as well as advertisements for Mac Fisheries and K Shoes.[3][12] She also worked as a book illustrator.[3][14][15] She lived in London for many years, but died in Essex in 1966.

Selected works

London Underground Posters[15]
  • Kew Gardens, foxgloves, 1924
  • From country to the heart of town, 1925
  • For Picnics and Rambles from Town to Open Country[17]
  • Crocuses are out, 1927
  • Come out and see it, 1927
  • Daffodils are blooming, 1927
  • See London's Gardens, 1927
  • The Underground brings all good things nearer, 1930
  • RAF Display at Colindale Station, 1932[18]
  • Trooping the Colour, 1936
Book illustration
  • W. H. Davies, A Poet's Alphabet, 1925[19]
  • W. H. Davies, The Song of Love, 1926
  • W. H. Davies, A Poet's Calendar, 1927
  • How to Buy and Sell Money The Curwen Press, 1929 (contributor)
  • Shell-Mex and BP Ltd, The Care of Your Tractor, n.d. ca 1930
  • The B.B.C. Year-Book, 1931, 1932 and 1933 (dustwrapper)
  • Geoffrey Holme, The Children's Art Book, 1939 (contributor)
  • William Cowper, John Gilpin, [1942] (Bantam Picture Book No. 17)
  • The Giant without a Heart. An old Norse fairy tale, 1944
Ceramics
  • Hans Van Lemmen, Art Deco Tiles, 2012

References

  1. ^ 1939 England and Wales Register
  2. ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995
  3. ^ a b c d Ruth Artmonsky (2012). Designing Women: Women Working in Advertising and Publicity from the 1920s to the 1960s. Artmonsky Books. ISBN 978-0-9551994-9-3.
  4. ^ Dora Margaret Batty, art student, age 20, 1911 England Census
  5. ^ 1901 England Census
  6. ^ England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
  7. ^ "The Rev. D. L. Ward & Miss M. L. Batty". Essex Newsman. 13 August 1910. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  8. ^ "Funeral of Rev. T. Batty, of Colchester". Essex Evening Star and Daily Herald. Ipswich, Suffolk. 19 June 1909. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  9. ^ "The Borough of Colchester: Protestant nonconformity". A History of the County of Essex. 9. Victoria County History. 1994 – via British History Online.
  10. ^ "Story of the Week". Chelmsford Chronicle. 5 September 1913. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  11. ^ "Chelmsford School of Art - Prize Distribution". Chelmsford Chronicle. 2 August 1912. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  12. ^ a b "Artist - Dora M Batty". London Transport Museum. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  13. ^ Maker Profile of Dora Batty Archived February 22, 2014, at the Wayback Machine, The Central Saint Martins Museum and Study Collection, University of the Arts London website.
  14. ^ a b "Poster Girls exhibition showcases forgotten design heroines". BBC News. 13 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  15. ^ a b c David Bownes (2018). Poster Girls. london transport museum. ISBN 978 1 871829 28 0.
  16. ^ "Overview, Dora M. Batty (1878-1966)". The British Council. Retrieved 21 November 2017.
  17. ^ "For Picnics and Rambles from Town to Open Country - YCBA Collections Search". collections.britishart.yale.edu. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
  18. ^ Teri J Edelstein, ed. (2010). Art for All. Yale Center for British Art / Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300152975.
  19. ^ "Short Notices". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. 11 November 1925. Retrieved 13 August 2017.