Edward Osmond

Edward Osmond (6 May 1900 — c. 1981) was an English artist from the 1920s to 1960s. During this time period, Osmond primarily worked as an illustrator before publishing his first book for children, A Valley Grows Up, in 1953. The following year, Osmond received the 1954 Carnegie Medal for A Valley Grows Up. Osmond continued to write children's works during the 1950s to 1960s, including multiple series on animals. Apart from his children's works, Osmond's artworks were displayed at the Royal Academy of Arts and Royal Society of British Artists during the 1920s. He also was an art teacher at the Hastings College of Arts and Technology and Hornsey College of Art.

Early life and education

On 6 May 1900 Osmond was born in Orford, Suffolk. For his post-secondary education, Osmond went to the Polytechnic-Regent Street for an art program between 1917 and 1924. At the end of his studies, Osmond received diplomas in painting and art history.[1][2]

Career

During the 1920s, Osmond had his art shown at the Royal Academy of Arts, Royal Society of British Artists and Walker Art Gallery.[3] With his diplomas, Osmond taught art at the Hastings College of Arts and Technology and Hornsey College of Art.[4] Osmond expanded his career into illustrations in 1928 before he wrote his first book for children, A Valley Grows Up, in 1953.[5] As an illustrator from the 1950s to 1970s, Osmond primarily illustrated his own works. Authors that Osmond illustrated for during this period include Arthur Catherall, Percy Westerman, Cynthia Harnett and Richard Armstrong.[6] During his writing career, Osmond received the Carnegie Medal in 1954 for A Valley Grows Up.[7] Osmond continued to write throughout the 1950s and 1960s. Some of his works include a series about animals found throughout the world and another animal series focusing on Great Britain.[5]

Writing style and settings

While teaching his learning disability classes, Osmond "illustrated on a blackboard [his] lectures by means of an imaginary village". His school drawings became the basis for A Valley Grows Up.[8] To create the fictional locations in A Valley Grows Up, Osmond used Lewes, Wye Valley and the shoreline of Dorset.[9]

Death and personal life

In 1981, Osmond died in Lewes. He was married and had one child.[3]

References
  1. Kinsman, Claire D., ed. (1975). "Osmond, Edward 1900-". Contemporary Authors. Permanent Series. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale Research Company. p. 492. ISBN 0810300362. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  2. Ward, Martha E.; Marquardt, Dorothy A.; Dolan, Nancy; Eaton, Dawn (1990). "Osmond, Edward 1900-". Authors of books for young people (third ed.). Metuchen, N.J. and London: The Scarecrow Press, Inc. p. 541. ISBN 0810822938. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  3. "Osmond, Edward". Suffolk Artists. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  4. Kinsman 1975, pp. 492-93
  5. Commire, Anne (1975). "Osmond, Edward 1900-". Something about the author. Vol. 7. Detroit: Gale Research. p. 174. ISBN 0810300621.
  6. Peppin, Brigid; Micklethwait, Lucy (1983). "Edward Osmond (b. 1900)". Dictionary of British book illustrators: the twentieth century. London: John Murray (Publishers) Ltd. p. 221. ISBN 0719539854.
  7. "Carnegie Medal Winners". The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  8. "The CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Living Archive - Edward Osmond: A Valley Grows Up (1953)". The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards. Archived from the original on 8 June 2009. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  9. "Children's Book of the Year "A Valley Grows Up"". The Manchester Guardian. 13 May 1954. p. 5.
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