French, Annie (1872–1965)
French, Annie (1872–1965)
Scottish artist. Born 1872 in Glasgow, Scotland; died 1965 in Jersey, England; attended Glasgow School of Art under Fra Newbery, 1896–1902; m. George Wooliscroft Rhead (artist), 1914 (died 1920).
One of the "Glasgow Girls," a group of artists whose most famous work was in illustration with very fine pen-and-ink technique, was schoolmate of Jessie M. King, Margaret and Frances MacDonald and other talented women who made up the group; exhibited for 1st time in Brussels Salon (1903); settled in London and became a prolific exhibitor at Royal Scottish Academy, Royal Glasgow Institute and Royal Academy; was best-known for black-and-white illustrations, many of which appeared in the avant-garde international art journal The Studio; painted in watercolor and less frequently in oils; worked in Pre-Raphaelite style with Romantic subjects and often depicted scenes of fairies, then popular; often compared to artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones as well as Aubrey Beardsley, illustrated numerous fairy tales and poems and designed postcards and posters in highly decorative manner, emphasizing unique quality of fine pen-and-ink linear technique; settled in Jersey (late 1950s); work included in permanent collection of Scottish Gallery of Modern Art.