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Croydon ConnectionsCicely Mary Barker - 1895-1973
The children's classic books of Flower Fairies are what made Cicely Mary Barker famous. She had already received considerable praise during the first world war for her pictures of children at work and play, and in religious, literary and national themes. Cicely Mary Barker was born in Croydon on 28th June 1895 and died in 1973 in Worthing. From 1907 she lived at No 17 The Waldrons and in 1924 she moved to No. 23 where her sister Dorothy eventually opened a small kindergarten school. Due to poor health Cicely was educated at home and this where she taught herself to paint and draw. She believed in recreating the beauty of nature in art. The plants and flowers she created were completed with total botanic accuracy and the fairies were all based on children she had observed, not only at her sister Dorothy's kindergarten but from all walks of life. Supported by her family and attending evening classes at Croydon School of
Art she began by making postcards - a good way of getting public recognition for
her art. At the age of 16 the Croydon Art Society awarded her second prize
in a poster competition and she was elected to life membership of the Society - the
youngest person to receive this honour.
Cicely had strong Christian beliefs and illustrated Christmas cards, hymns and bible stories. One of her commissioned works 'The Parable of the Last Supper' is housed at St Georges's Church in Waddon and the seven sacraments decorate the front of her own church St. Andrew's. More information - 23 The Waldrons Back to Croydon Connections Home Page 
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Wednesday, 27 August, 2008 | ||
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