Phyllis Mary Waters (6 April 1896 – 1979), known as Billie Waters was a British artist.

Billie Waters
Born
Phyllis Mary Waters

6 April 1896
Died1979 (aged 82–83)
NationalityBritish
Known forPainting

Biography

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Waters was born in Richmond, Surrey and studied art at the Heatherley School of Fine Art and then at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art.[1] From 1926 to 1931 she lived in Newlyn, Cornwall and studied with the artists Ernest Procter and Harold Harvey at their art school for some time.[2][3] For a period Waters worked as an apprentice to Proctor and learnt several techniques from him.[4]

Waters first exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1928 and showed there annually throughout her working life.[3] She also exhibited with the New English Art Club, the Royal Institute of Oil Painters and the Society of Women Artists.[1] Waters was an elected member of the National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Gravers.[5] In 1933, she had her first solo exhibition at the Leicester Galleries in London.[3][4] In 1934 Waters was commissioned to create a mural for the Knightsbridge Grille in London.[3]

Waters lived in London but continued to visit Cornwall on a regular basis and eventually moved to Lelant in the county.[1] Waters was a frequent visitor to both France and Italy and became interested in fresco techniques early in her artistic career. She developed a distinct style of working in oils which created the appearance of tempera works.[6] Meeting Ben Nicholson in Cornwall led Waters to experiment with abstraction, but the majority of her works are realistic and representational.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c David Buckman (2006). Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 2, M to Z. Art Dictionaries Ltd. ISBN 0-953260-95-X.
  2. ^ Marion Whybrow (1994). St Ives 1883-1993 Portrait of an Art Colony. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1-85149-170-8.
  3. ^ a b c d e Frances Spalding (1990). 20th Century Painters and Sculptors. Antique Collectors' Club. ISBN 1-85149-106-6.
  4. ^ a b Caroline Fox (1985). Painting in Newlyn 1900-1930. Newlyn Orion. ISBN 0-9506579-4-8.
  5. ^ Grant M. Waters (1975). Dictionary of British Artists Working 1900-1950. Eastbourne Fine Art.
  6. ^ "Billie Waters". Cornwall Artists Index. Retrieved 18 June 2018.