Joan Kiddell-Monroe
Encyclopedia
Joan Kiddell-Monroe was a British-born author and illustrator of children's books, particularly notable for her folk-tale illustrations.
, England. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art and worked in advertising for a while before becoming a freelance artist.
In the late 1930s she married Webster Murray, a Canadian-illustrator who died in 1957. Before the war she travelled in Africa with him and after his death returned there with her son. She lived the later years of her life in Majorca where she died in 1972.
, the West Indies and many other places. She illustrated a number of Patricia Lynch
's Irish books including Long Ears and Orla of Burren.
Joan illustrated all six books of the Ladybird
series of The Adventures of Wonk
about a koala
. Four of her own In His Little Black Waistcoat stories for children feature a panda
as the hero.
She used various styles and media, including scraperboard, wash
and pen and ink. For her version of Arabian Nights (Dent, 1951), she used a formal decorative treatment, while the Aesop's Fables
, (Blackwell, 1972) was illustrated in vivid, flat colours.
Biography
Joan Kiddell-Monroe was born on August 9, 1908 in Clacton-on-SeaClacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town on the Tendring peninsula, in Essex, England and was founded in 1871. It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the summer months between the 1950s and 1970s, but which like many other British sea-side resorts went into decline as a holiday...
, England. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art and worked in advertising for a while before becoming a freelance artist.
In the late 1930s she married Webster Murray, a Canadian-illustrator who died in 1957. Before the war she travelled in Africa with him and after his death returned there with her son. She lived the later years of her life in Majorca where she died in 1972.
Artwork
Joan Kiddell-Monroe is best known for her book illustrations, and was a prolific illustrator between the 1940s and 1960s. Her work often deals with animals and life overseas, particularly in Africa. She illustrated the Oxford Myths and Legends series for the OUP, which includes legends and folk-tales from China, ScandinaviaScandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
, the West Indies and many other places. She illustrated a number of Patricia Lynch
Patricia Lynch
Patricia Lynch was an Irish author of children's literature and journalist. She was the author of some 48 novels and 200 short stories. She is best known for blending Irish rural life and fantasy as in The Turf-Cutter's Donkey....
's Irish books including Long Ears and Orla of Burren.
Joan illustrated all six books of the Ladybird
Ladybird Books
Ladybird Books is a London-based publishing company, trading as a stand-alone imprint within the Penguin Group of companies. The Ladybird imprint publishes mass-market children's books.-History:...
series of The Adventures of Wonk
Wonk (character)
Wonk is a character from The Adventures of Wonk by Muriel Levy with illustrations by Kiddell-Monroe. Published by Ladybird Books in the 1940s, these children's classics are now extremely rare. Wonk is a creature best described as a cuddly Koala-like bear who gets himself into all sorts of trouble...
about a koala
Koala
The koala is an arboreal herbivorous marsupial native to Australia, and the only extant representative of the family Phascolarctidae....
. Four of her own In His Little Black Waistcoat stories for children feature a panda
Panda
Panda or Panda bear most often refers to:*Giant panda, an animal in the Bear familyPanda may also refer to:*Red panda, the only living member in the Ailuridae family-In biology:* Species related to the Giant panda...
as the hero.
She used various styles and media, including scraperboard, wash
Wash (painting)
thumb|Example of a wash drawing by [[R. G. Skerrett]].A wash is a painting technique in which a paint brush that is very wet with solvent and holds a small paint load is applied to a wet or dry support such as paper or primed or raw canvas. The result is a smooth and uniform area that ideally lacks...
and pen and ink. For her version of Arabian Nights (Dent, 1951), she used a formal decorative treatment, while the Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables
Aesop's Fables or the Aesopica are a collection of fables credited to Aesop, a slave and story-teller believed to have lived in ancient Greece between 620 and 560 BCE. The fables remain a popular choice for moral education of children today...
, (Blackwell, 1972) was illustrated in vivid, flat colours.