BURLEIGH, Averil

Averil Burleigh (1883 – 1949) studied at the Brighton School of Art. In 1911 Burleigh illustrated a book of John Keats’ poetry and went on to illustrate plays by Shakespeare. In 1913 she was featured in Studio magazine. In 1927 Burleigh illustrated Thistledown by Leolyn Louise Everett. From 1939 she was a member of the Royal Society of Painters in Watercolours. Burleigh became very ill in the 1940s, dying in 1949. Shortly before she died, Burleigh was elected an associate of the Royal Watercolour Society. Burleigh specialised in tempera painting, although she also worked in chalk and watercolour. Her works tend to have a bright colour palette with contrasting colours to lead the eye around the picture. A sharp luminosity and strong sense of design govern Burleigh’s tempera and watercolour paintings. Burleigh also illustrated plays by Shakespeare. Burleigh exhibited throughout her career, including at the Royal Academy in London, at the Royal Scottish Academy in Edinburgh, the Society of Women Artists, with the New English Art Club, the Royal Cambrian Academy, the Sussex Women’s Art Club, the Walker Art Gallery and at the Paris Salon. From 1912 to 1945 she was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Academy, which included showing a series of 17 tempera paintings there between 1930 and 1935. Burleigh also contributed to the 1913 Arts and Crafts Society exhibition held at the Grovesnor Galleries.