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Underwater scene, c1950. Creator: Shirley Markham
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Underwater scene, c1950. Creator: Shirley Markham
Underwater scene, c1950. Shirley Markham (1931-1999) studied Graphic Design and Illustration at Central School of Art in London from 1950-1952. The writer, artist, poet, and illustrator Mervyn Peake (1911-1968) was one of her tutors, and her style of drawing was also influenced by other British illustrators such as Edward Ardizzone, Quentin Blake and Edward Bawden. Markham spent time in the Dolomite Mountains in Italy, and also visited Rome, sketching classical buildings. After graduating from Central, she worked as a graphic designer, producing book illustrations, cartoons for comics, menus and programmes. She gave up her promising career however when she got married in 1957. Middle-class women at that time were expected to devote their energies to bringing up children and running the home, and despite her obvious talent, she lacked the confidence to return to illustration. Her portfolio remained in the family attic for many years, but now her work is published here for the first time
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Media ID 18266183
© Shirley Markham Collection / Heritage-Images
1950s Aquatic Life Fifties Fish Markham Seaweed Shirley Shirley Jane Shirley Jane Markham Shirley Markham Shirley Waite Snail Underwater Waite Gouache Jellyfish Sea Anemone
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This underwater scene, captured in the 1950s by Shirley Markham, transports us to a world of enchantment and beauty. Markham's artistic prowess shines through in this print as she skillfully combines her training in Graphic Design and Illustration with influences from renowned British illustrators such as Edward Ardizzone, Quentin Blake, and Edward Bawden. The depth of Markham's talent is evident not only in her ability to bring life to the underwater realm but also in her versatility as an artist. Her portfolio showcases a wide range of work including book illustrations, cartoons for comics, menus, and programmes. However, despite her promising career trajectory after graduating from Central School of Art in London and working as a graphic designer, Markham made the difficult decision to give it all up when she married in 1957. In an era where societal expectations placed immense pressure on middle-class women to prioritize their roles as wives and mothers over professional pursuits, Markham succumbed to these norms. Though her artwork remained hidden away for years within the confines of the family attic, we are fortunate that it has now emerged into public view for the first time. This long-overdue recognition allows us to appreciate Shirley Markham's exceptional talent that was once overshadowed by societal constraints. Through this underwater scene print and other works yet unseen by many eyes, we can finally celebrate her contribution to art history while acknowledging the barriers faced by women artists during that era.
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