Marjorie WILLIAMS

Marjorie WILLIAMS
nee Murray
1881
1961

Born in Hascombe, Surrey, the eldest of five girls, and educated by a governess at home. The artist was encouraged to draw and paint from an early age. In 1908-9 she lived with her uncle in India. Her diary from that time records an expedition over the Khyber Pass on horseback, and evening parties and dances. In 1910-11 she lived in Paris and studied at Julian's Academy, drawing from the nude and learning etching and dry-point printing from copper plates. Her major influences were Meryon, Whistler and others.

In 1911 she married John Fischer Williams and they built a house on the south coast of Cornwall where they settled from 1920-1931, spending time also in Paris and travelling widely in France, Holland, Belgium and Italy. Four daughters, three of whom were to have important international careers in law, medicine and psychiatry respectively, aside from literature, were brought up by Marjorie. She was also stepmother to Barbara, Jack's daughter by his first marriage.

She specialised in drawing and etching of church architecture. Her subject matter was the back streets, peasant scenes, flowers and countryside. From 1931 the family spent summers in Cornwall and after her husband's death in 1947 she continued to visit France in order to sketch. Lino-cut designs were also an interest, and she printed curtains and cushions. Her WWII diary is available at the Hypatia Trust, along with writings by her daughters, Jenifer Hart, Dr Mariella Fischer-Williams, and Judith Hubback. Three of her etchings were displayed in the Group Show at Falmouth in 1996, Fisherman's Workshop, Cobbler's Shop (Cornwall) and Treveague Farm.

media

Etching, drawing and embroidery

works and access

Access: Falmouth Art Gallery (Collection)

exhibitions

Women Artists (Falmouth AG, Group 1996)

A Mixed Bunch (Falmouth AG, Summer 2010)

memberships

Guild of Embroiderers

references

Hypatia Trust; WCAA

Hoyle, H (Nov 2010 Women Artists in Cornwall www.cornishmuse.blogspot.com) 'Marjorie Williams at Falmouth Art Gallery'

Wallace et al (1996) Women Artists in Cornwall 1880-1940