HELEN McKIE

The Millinery Works was fortunate in having been invited to exhibit two works 

Helen Madeleine McKie was born on the 11th October 1889 in London and educated at Tiffin Girls School, Kingston on Thames, and Lambeth School of Art, where she studied composition and painting under Philip Connard. She then became an illustrator and permanent member of staff to 'Bystander' magazine from 1915-1929. She was also a contributing artist to The Graphic, Sphere, Autocar, and Queen publications.

In 1919 she exhibited at Brock Street Art Gallery, and in 1928 at Walkers Galleries, where Queen Mary purchased a picture. She also exhibited at the Paris Salon from 1934-1936 and at the Royal Hibernian Academy in 1936. McKie became well known for her drawings of military figures during World War I, and corresponded with soldiers in active service across the world.

In 1931, she paid a visit to the Brown House, Munich when on the strength of a letter of introduction to Hitler, was allowed to sketch Nazi officials. During World War II, she was commissioned by Lord Lloyd to make sketches of Navy personnel and warships. In 1943, she painted 'The Upper War Room' at Admiralty, Whitehall for presentation to Sir Winston Churchill, who was in the picture. She produced commissioned work for the Southern Railway, including two paintings of Waterloo Station in 1943 and 1948, and the decoration of two coaches for a continental boat train 'SS Brittany'. She also wrote and illustrated an article for the coronation edition of Country Life magazine in 1953.

Murals were designed and painted by McKie for amongst others; the Ritz Hotel in London, several Butlins holiday camps including a Bahamas resort, Ford motorcars, the French government Tourist Office, and Selfridges. Her published work includes illustrations for 'Beau Geste' (1924) 'My Secret London' (1932) and 'The Romance of London River' (1934).

 McKie lived and worked in Chelsea throughout her life, but travelled extensively with her work. She remained unmarried and spent many of her later years with her sister Kitty Fraser. She died in February 1957. 

The two works on display are scenes of London & Paris dated 1948 - the year of 'The New Look'.

The Paris image measures 12ft 3in long x 3ft 8in high. Sold

London measures 7ft 11in long x 3ft 8in high.

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s5212 Etching 'Tour de Feare' signed Frank Brangwyn 1911, in mahogany frame, 47cm (18.5in) frame height, 64cm (25in) frame width.

s3820 A Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood print in 19th Century oak frame, monogrammed PRB, circa 1870, 24cm (9.5in) high, 33cm (13in) wide (image size). 

s2231 A Pre-Raphaelite print of Dante & Beatrice in Florence by Henry Holiday in a period oak frame circa 1875, 17cm(10.5in) high 40cm (15.5in) wide (image size). Sold

sbr86 A hammered copper Arts & Crafts picture frame, circa 1910, 27cm (10.5in) high, 22cm (8.5in) wide.

sbr87 A hammered copper Arts & Crafts picture frame, circa 1910, 33cm (13in) high, 26cm (10in) wide.

& s3010 A fabric picture frame with Egyptian motifs, circa 1920, 26cm (10in) high, 17cm (6.5in) wide.

sdb590 A framed print from 'Arthurian Legends' designed by Walter Crane, circa 1880, 24cm (9.5in) high, 19cm (7.5in) wide (image size). 

sdb591 A framed print from 'Arthurian Legends' designed by Walter Crane, circa 1880, 24cm (9.5in) high, 19cm (7.5in) wide (image size). 

s4996 A framed etching ' Barnard Castle' by Sir Frank Brangwyn, signed in plate, circa 1900, 38cm (15in) high, 31cm (12in) wide (image size). Sold

s4997a  A Framed lithograph "Der Architekt" German Secessionist Building, circa 1905, 33cm (13in) high, 21cm (8in) wide (image size). 

JSR593JH  A large free-standing British Modernist sculpture of stylised primitivist figure in Yorkshire gritstone in the manner of Jacob Epstein, circa 1930  55.5in (141cm) high, 18in (46cm) wide..

s3719a Framed Ernest A Taylor signed water-colour of a Windmill signed and dated 1909.

jtg61 Framed E A Taylor conte chalk drawing 'Cathedral',

circa 1920.

jtg58 Framed E A Taylor conte chalk landscape drawing, 

circa 1920.

jtg62 Framed E A Taylor conte chalk landscape drawing, 

circa 1920.