Anne Anderson (illustrator)

Anne Anderson (1874—26 May 1952) was a prolific Scottish illustrator, primarily known for her art nouveau children's book illustrations, although she also painted, etched and designed greeting cards. Her style of painting was influenced by her contemporaries, Charles Robinson, and Jessie Marion King, and was similar to that of her husband, Alan Wright (1864-1959).

Born in Scotland in 1874 to James and Grace Anderson, Annie "Anne" Anderson and her siblings—four brothers and one sister, Grace—spent their childhood in Argentina. On reaching adulthood, Annie and Grace returned to England to find work. By 1910, Annie could afford to buy a cottage in Berkshire.

She married the artist Alan Wright in June 1912 at Burghfield Common Parish Church in Berkshire, and they lived in the cottage she had purchased two years earlier. Though they collaborated on many projects, Anne was considered the driving force. Her husband had had a successful career as an illustrator until working on a book for the vilified homosexual Baron Corvo in 1898.

Her book illustrations began appearing at the end of the Edwardian era. Her illustrations may be found in children’s books and annuals such as Blackie's and Cassell's, on Royal Doulton China, and were frequently used on postcards.

Examples of her work

The Little Mermaid

The Snow Queen

Beauty and the Beast

Briar Rose

Cinderella

Snow White

Rapunzel

Rumplestiltskin

The Frog Prince

The Red Shoes

The Swan Princes

The Fisherman and His Wife

The Little Match Girl

The Three Dwarfs

(selected)

While some sources list Annie's death in 1930, other sources say she died in 1936, and still others indicate she was still alive after World War II.

There is, however, an entry on 29 May 1952 in the Berkshire Burial Index for a married artist named Annie Wright, aged 76, who had resided in Burghfield Common. Given that there is an entry in the same Burial Index on 17 July 1959 for a widower named Alan Wright, aged 94, who also had resided in Burghfield Common, it lends more credence to her death taking place on 26 May 1952.

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