ARTISTS

J W ATKINSON

John William Atkinson (1867-1954) was born in Hull where he worked as a teacher. He lived with his brother Frederick for most of his adult life, both becoming highly accomplished amateur photographers. He was associated with the Hull Photographic Society over fifty years serving as president, was Life Vice President of the Yorkshire Photographic Union and an Associate of the Royal Photographic Society. He exhibited pictorialist landscapes of Yorkshire at the RPS in the 1930’s and was a master of the bromoil process as well as an early experimenter with colour photography. 

WILLIAM BLAKE

William Blake (28 November 1757 – 12 August 1827) was an English poet, painter and printmaker. Imaginative, inventive and rebellious, he is an inspiration to visual artists, musicians, poets and performers today, yet during his lifetime he was largely unknown. He channeled his struggles and inner turmoil through his remarkable work which often featured dramatic biblical scenes and tragedies that in-turn evoked the mood of a merky society during his lifetime, one of political unrest and oppression. 

OWEN GRAYSTONE BIRD

Owen Graystone Bird (1862-1943) was an early professional photographer active during the nineteenth and early twentieth century. ​He was born in Somerset, England where it's idyllic rural life became the backdrop of his romantic works. He initially trained as an artist, following in his father's footsteps, but quickly turned his hand to photography. ​Known worldwide for his sophisticated compositions and stylised approach his career peaked during the 1890's. Queen Victoria and King Edward VII were collectors of his work. Posthumously, Bird has been largely forgotten, due predominantly to his master copies being lost as a result of his studio being destroyed. 

WILHELM HUNT DIEDERICH

William Hunt Diederic​h (1884 - 1953) was an artist, print maker and sculptor known for his highly decorative work in wrought iron. He depicted animals, particularly dogs and horses, as angular stylized silhouettes abuzz with movement and energy. His lifelong love of animals was inspired by his childhood on his family’s estate in Hungary. 

ROSALIND MAINGOT

Rosalind Maingot F.R.S. (1894 - ) was born in Brisbane, Australia. 

Active in the mid-20th century, Maingot developed a distinctive style marked by dramatic lighting and psychological depth. Her ability to capture quiet introspection and subtle narrative set her apart in an era dominated by more commercial approaches. A notable example is The Palmist, held in the Victoria & Albert Museum, which reflects her command of mood and human expression. Maingot’s contributions to British photography remain under-recognised, yet her portraits reveal a sophisticated understanding of both composition and character.

JOHN TENNIEL

John Tenniel (1820 – 1914) is most famous for his vivid illustrations for the books 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' (1865) and 'Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There' (1871), written by Lewis Carroll. He began his career studying fine art at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. He was renowned for his work as a political cartoonist for the satirical magazine Punch where he became principle illustrator in 1864. He had an incredible photographic memory which enabled him to create very detailed, expressive works. GLASS has a hand-coloured negative of Tenniel's Alice entitled, 'You're nothing but a pack of cards!' In 1893 Tenniel was knighted for his services to the arts, becoming the first cartoonist to receive the honour. By the time he retired from Punch in 1901, he had completed over 2,000 cartoons for the publication