Vere Lucy Temple 1898-1980 British School 20th.Century "Matilda", Watercolour and pencil, Inscribed on a label verso, 22.8 x 27.2cms. Circa.1935. Provenance: Artist's estate; Abbott & Holder Ltd, London.
Vere Temple was a painter, illustrator, printmaker and writer. Born in Boreham Manor, near Warminster, she showed an early aptitude for drawing and was virtually self taught. She had a special interest in British wildlife and was a fellow of the British Entomological Society. From the 1920s she exhibited at several galleries including: Goupil Gallery, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool; shared an exhibition at the Redfern Gallery with John Tunnard and showed with the New English Art Club. She illustrated books by the children's writer, Enid Blyton and also books by Geoffrey M. Taylor. Her own books included the Studio 'How to do it' series: 'Wild Flowers', 1942; 'Flowers and Butterflies', 1946 and 'Pond Life', 1956; and for Batsford in 1945: 'British Butterflies and Moths in Britain'. Her work is held by the British Council, Manchester City Art Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery. From the 1940s she lived at Tollard Green, Tollard Royal, Wiltshire. Abbott and Holder held an exhibition of her animal pictures in 2001.