He was born in New York to Roland and Kitty Hilder (née Fissenden). Following the outbreak of World War 1, Hilder's English father decided in 1915 to return to his native county of Kent England to enlist in the army.[1][2]
Hilder studied at Goldsmiths' College, in south London where he met botanical artist Edith Blenkiron (1903-1992). They married and had two children.[2] As a student with little money he cycled into Kent and discovered the Shoreham Valley in the North Downs where he sketched the same barn drawn by the painter Samuel Palmer in the 1820s. This interest in the countryside began a lifelong passion for drawing landscapes in both pencil and watercolour, initially of Kent, "The Garden of England", and the Thames with its sailing vessels and old buildings.[3]
CareerEdit
Hilder was commissioned by Oxford University Press to illustrate books. He was awarded the Times Illustrator award for his end papers and monochrome drawings of Stevenson's 'Treasure Island' in 1929. In the 1930s he illustrated several books. In 1929 Hilder was commissioned by Shell Mex Ltd. to illustrate "Then and Now", a travel guide which started a long relationship with the company with posters sponsored by them. In 1953 when asked by the publisher George Rainbird to provide background landscapes to a series of wildflowers by another artist, Hilder showed him pictures of flowers by his wife Edith. Rainbird then commissioned them both to create the Shell "Flowers of the Countryside" series. Demand was so great that Shell set up an office to deal with correspondence and 13 million plates were published.[4]
He was also a cover artist for Radio Times[5] and, together with Edith, illustrated the Ladybird Book of British Wild Flowers published in 1957.
He was an army Camouflage Officer during the Second World War and then became a mainstay of the Ministry of Information.[citation needed]
He has been called 'the Turner of his generation',[7] and according to the Dictionary of National Biography 'The description "Rowland Hilder country" (attached primarily to the weald of Kent) evokes a landscape as distinctive and personal as "Constable's country" along the Suffolk Stour.'[8]
ReferencesEdit
^Hilder, Rowland (1987). Rowland Hilder Country. The Herbert Press Ltd. p. 7. ISBN0-906969-74-3.
^ ab. bookroomartpress.co.uk. Bookroom Art Press. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 27 November 2014.
^Hilder, Rowland (1986). Rowland Hilder's England. Own library: The Herbert Press Ltd. pp. 7–16. ISBN0-906969-57-3.
^Hilder, Rowland (1987). Rowland Hilder Country. Own library: The Herbert Press Ltd. pp. 15–16. ISBN0-906969-74-3.
^"[Cover]". Radio Times. No. 1467. 21 December 1951.
^ abThomas, Denis (18 September 2011). "Obituary:Rowland Hilder". independent.co.uk. Independent Newspaper. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
^"The National Archives | Research and learning | Exhibitions | the Art of War | Artists".
^Denis Thomas, ‘Hilder, Rowland Frederick (1905–1993)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 30 June 2009
October 17, 2023
rowland, hilder, rowland, frederick, hilder, june, 1905, april, 1993, english, landscape, artist, book, illustrator, hilder, picture, from, second, world, contents, early, life, career, influence, referencesearly, life, edithe, born, york, roland, kitty, hilde. Rowland Frederick Hilder OBE 28 June 1905 21 April 1993 was an English landscape artist and book illustrator A Hilder picture from the Second World War Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Influence 4 ReferencesEarly life EditHe was born in New York to Roland and Kitty Hilder nee Fissenden Following the outbreak of World War 1 Hilder s English father decided in 1915 to return to his native county of Kent England to enlist in the army 1 2 Hilder studied at Goldsmiths College in south London where he met botanical artist Edith Blenkiron 1903 1992 They married and had two children 2 As a student with little money he cycled into Kent and discovered the Shoreham Valley in the North Downs where he sketched the same barn drawn by the painter Samuel Palmer in the 1820s This interest in the countryside began a lifelong passion for drawing landscapes in both pencil and watercolour initially of Kent The Garden of England and the Thames with its sailing vessels and old buildings 3 Career EditHilder was commissioned by Oxford University Press to illustrate books He was awarded the Times Illustrator award for his end papers and monochrome drawings of Stevenson s Treasure Island in 1929 In the 1930s he illustrated several books In 1929 Hilder was commissioned by Shell Mex Ltd to illustrate Then and Now a travel guide which started a long relationship with the company with posters sponsored by them In 1953 when asked by the publisher George Rainbird to provide background landscapes to a series of wildflowers by another artist Hilder showed him pictures of flowers by his wife Edith Rainbird then commissioned them both to create the Shell Flowers of the Countryside series Demand was so great that Shell set up an office to deal with correspondence and 13 million plates were published 4 He was also a cover artist for Radio Times 5 and together with Edith illustrated the Ladybird Book of British Wild Flowers published in 1957 He was an army Camouflage Officer during the Second World War and then became a mainstay of the Ministry of Information citation needed Hilder served as President of the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours from 1964 to 1974 6 He was awarded an OBE in 1986 6 Influence EditHe has been called the Turner of his generation 7 and according to the Dictionary of National Biography The description Rowland Hilder country attached primarily to the weald of Kent evokes a landscape as distinctive and personal as Constable s country along the Suffolk Stour 8 References Edit Hilder Rowland 1987 Rowland Hilder Country The Herbert Press Ltd p 7 ISBN 0 906969 74 3 a b Rowland Hilder bookroomartpress co uk Bookroom Art Press Archived from the original on 5 December 2014 Retrieved 27 November 2014 Hilder Rowland 1986 Rowland Hilder s England Own library The Herbert Press Ltd pp 7 16 ISBN 0 906969 57 3 Hilder Rowland 1987 Rowland Hilder Country Own library The Herbert Press Ltd pp 15 16 ISBN 0 906969 74 3 Cover Radio Times No 1467 21 December 1951 a b Thomas Denis 18 September 2011 Obituary Rowland Hilder independent co uk Independent Newspaper Retrieved 30 November 2014 The National Archives Research and learning Exhibitions the Art of War Artists Denis Thomas Hilder Rowland Frederick 1905 1993 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 accessed 30 June 2009 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rowland Hilder amp oldid 1088010099, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
