Biographies

Gerald Spencer Pryse (1880 – 1956) He was born in France, educated at Eton, and studied at several art schools. He served with distinction in WWI (Croix de Guerre). He did some well known propaganda posters for recruiting in WWI, and later for illustrating the glories of the British Empire. But he also illustrated books, especially those of E. Nesbit, and produced images of poverty and other social ills. His work is currently less well-known than that of his daughter, the landscape painter, Tessa Spencer Pryse, who became an art student against her father’s wishes, won a scholarship to the Byam school at the age of 17, married a fellow-student, raised a family, and became a very successful painter.