Helen Paxton Brown

Helen Paxton Brown (1876 - 1956) also known as "Nell", was an artist associated with the Glasgow Girls. Born in Hillhead, Glasgow to a Scottish father and English mother[1] and she spent most of her life in Glasgow. Best known for her painting and embroidering she also worked in a range of mediums such as leather, book binding and also painted china.

Helen Paxton Brown
Born1876
Glasgow, Scotland
Died1956
Glasgow
NationalityScottish
EducationGlasgow School of Art
Known forEmbroidery, bookbinding
MovementArts and Crafts
Portrait of Mrs Arthur by Helen Paxton Brown studio1915a 0207 (1)
Sideboard Cloth by Helen Paxton Brown studio1910b 0152
Table Centre by Helen Paxton Brown studio1910b 0157

Education and career

Brown studied at Glasgow School of Art, GSA, from 1894 to 1901 under directorship of the progressive Fra. H Newbery.[2] She was a student of Ann Macbeth at GSA and then went on to teach art embroidery to teachers at GSA from 1904 to 1907 (embroidery being an important part of GSA craft at that time) and then book binding from 1911 to 1913. It was whilst studying at GSA that she met her good friend Jessie M. King who she shared a studio flat with at 101 St Vincent Street, Glasgow from around 1898 until 1907 when King got married. The women's friendship was longlasting and strong despite the different trajectories of their careers. King attracted international acclaim but despite some early notice Brown had less success. The two women often modelled for each other and were inseparable companions during the years they lived together.[3]

After GSA Brown went to Paris to attend sketching classes and was an admirer of the free style of French Impressionists and would continue to visit Paris throughout her career. Her work mainly captures people out enjoying life, capturing atmosphere and café scenes (reflecting her interest in fashion and clothes), but she also painted landscapes and flowers too.

She is quoted as saying that she chose embroidery because she enjoyed "playing with colour" but also because it would sell as "art for art's sake is the road to starvation nowadays".[4] She was reportedly vivacious and noted for her witty wisecracks[5]

In the 1900s Patrick Geddes and Fra Newberry led a number of Scottish masques and pageants relating to Pan-Celtic events involving a range of Arts and Crafts designers from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Helen Paxton Brown was involved in the "historical" pageant production at Glasgow University.[6]

Exhibitions and Commissions
Glasgow School of Art

Brown joined "The Glasgow Society of Artists" (started by physician Alexander Frew, husband of painter Bessie MacNicol) which women could join unlike the all-male Glasgow Art Club. Although short-lived, the society provided an alternative for those painters dissatisfied with the Glasgow establishment.[3] She was also a member of the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists from 1905 and became an honorary member in 1948 where her work could often be found as well as at the Glasgow Art Institute.

From 1920s Brown started using more bright colours and bolder designs in both her painting and embroidery. This development was shown in a joint exhibition with Jessie M King at the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists’ exhibition in April 1931 called "Spring in Three Room"[7] which not only showed their paintings but saw them taking over three rooms which were decorated in bright yellows and creams showing different home decoration, in stark contrast to the then contemporary style of dark furniture. Jessie M King and Paxton Brown exhibited their work on several occasions together.

In 1925 she received a commission from Mount Blow, Dalmuir to paint 12 mural panels of nursery rhymes, through the Glasgow Corporation Welfare Scheme.[8]

Examples of her work can now be seen in the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

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References
  1. Moffat, Nan Muirhead (1982). Round the studios 1939: Portraits if twelve lady artists at work. Milngavie: Heatherbank Press.
  2. Scotland, National Galleries of. "Helen Paxton Brown − b − Artists A-Z − Online Collection − Collection − National Galleries of Scotland". www.nationalgalleries.org. Retrieved 25 January 2016.
  3. Burkhauser, Jude (2001). 'Glasgow Girls' Women in Art and Design 1880-1920. Cannongate Books. ISBN 978-1841951515.
  4. Moffat, Nan (1982). Round The Studios 1939: Portraits of Twelve Lady Artists at Work. Milngavie: Heatherbank Press.
  5. Arthur, Liz (2010). Glasgow Girls: Artists and Designers 1890-1930. Scotland: Kircudbright 2000 ltd. p. 58. ISBN 9780955163876.
  6. Cumming, Elizabeth (2006). Hand, Heart and Soul: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Scotland. Birlinn. ISBN 9781841586106.
  7. Burkhauser, Jude (1990). Glasgow Girls: Women in Art and Design 1880-1920. Canongate. p. 173. ISBN 9781841951515.
  8. "BROWN Helen Paxton 1876-1956 | Artist Biographies". www.artbiogs.co.uk. Retrieved 23 January 2016.
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