Helen Paxton Brown
| Helen Paxton Brown | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1876 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Died | 1956 Glasgow |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Education | Glasgow School of Art |
| Known for | Embroidery, bookbinding |
| Movement | Arts and Crafts |
Helen Paxton Brown (1876 - 1956) also known as "Nell", was an artist associated with the Glasgow Girls. Born in Hillhead, Glasgow to a Scottish father and English mother and she spent most of her life in Glasgow. Best known for her painting and embroidering she also worked in a range of mediums such as leather, book binding and also painted china.
Brown studied at Glasgow School of Art, GSA, from 1894 to 1901 under directorship of the progressive Fra. H Newbery. She was a student of Ann Macbeth at GSA and then went on to teach art embroidery to teachers at GSA from 1904 to 1907 (embroidery being an important part of GSA craft at that time) and then book binding from 1911 to 1913. It was whilst studying at GSA that she met her good friend Jessie M. King who she shared a studio flat with at 101 St Vincent Street, Glasgow from around 1898 until 1907 when King got married. The women's friendship was longlasting and strong despite the different trajectories of their careers. King attracted international acclaim but despite some early notice Brown had less success. The two women often modelled for each other and were inseparable companions during the years they lived together.
After GSA Brown went to Paris to attend sketching classes and was an admirer of the free style of French Impressionists and would continue to visit Paris throughout her career. Her work mainly captures people out enjoying life, capturing atmosphere and café scenes (reflecting her interest in fashion and clothes), but she also painted landscapes and flowers too.
She is quoted as saying that she chose embroidery because she enjoyed "playing with colour" but also because it would sell as "art for art's sake is the road to starvation nowadays". She was reportedly vivacious and noted for her witty wisecracks
In the 1900s Patrick Geddes and Fra Newberry led a number of Scottish masques and pageants relating to Pan-Celtic events involving a range of Arts and Crafts designers from Edinburgh and Glasgow. Helen Paxton Brown was involved in the "historical" pageant production at Glasgow University.
Brown joined "The Glasgow Society of Artists" (started by physician Alexander Frew, husband of painter Bessie MacNicol) which women could join unlike the all male Glasgow Art Club. Although short-lived, the society provided an alternative for those painters dissatisfied with the Glasgow establishment. She was also a member of the Lady Artists’ Club from 1905 and became an honorary member in 1948 where her work could often be found as well as at the Glasgow Art Institute.
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