V. H. Drummond Explained

Violet Hilda Drummond (30 July 1911 – 7 February 2000) was a British children's author and illustrator from the 1930s to 1970s. During her career, Drummond primarily wrote series on Mrs. Easter, Little Laura and Miss Anna Tully. Of her works, Drummond was awarded the 1954 Kate Greenaway Medal for Mrs Easter and the Storks. During the 1960s, her Little Laura books were adapted into eighteen television films for the Children's Hour on BBC. Apart from writing, Drummond was an illustrator for various authors including Helen Cresswell, Barbara Sleigh and J.K. Stanford. Drummond was also a watercolour painter and had her artwork shown in London, England.

Early life and education

On 30 July 1911, Drummond was born in London.[1] Her father, Robert Drummond, was a banker who was killed in action in 1914 during World War I.[2] Her mother, Hilda Margaret Harris subsequently remarried, taking the surname Gunning.[2] As a child, Drummond began her drawing experience doodling in her school notebooks.[3] Growing up, Drummond attended the Links School in Eastbourne and then a finishing school in Paris.[4] [5] For her art education, Drummond attended Saint Martin's School of Art from 1939 to 1942.[6] During this time period, Drummond was a member of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry for the British Army.[7] [8]

Career

As a children's author, Drummond wrote Phewtus the Squirrel in 1939 based on a toy squirrel named Rufus that her son mispronounced as Phewtus.[3] From the 1940s to 1970s, Drummond primarily wrote fictional series comprising five books each on Mrs. Easter and Little Laura. While writing two books on Miss Anna Truly, Drummond also provided the illustrations for each of her fictional books.[9] Of her works, Drummond received the 1957 Kate Greenaway Medal for Mrs Easter and the Storks.[5] [10] For the BBC, Drummond's Little Laura series was adapted into eighteen animated television films.[6] [5] [8] For the BBC adaption, Drummond wrote, illustrated and produced the Little Laura episodes that aired on the Children's Hour from 1963 to 1964.[11] [12]

Apart from writing, Drummond illustrated works for various other authors from the 1940s to the 1960s. These authors included J.K. Stanford, Barbara Sleigh, Helen Cresswell and others.[6] [2] Alongside her literary career, Drummond started painting in the 1950s.[3] [12] With her watercolour paintings and lithographs, Drummond had works shown at the Fortescue Swann Gallery plus the Chenil and the Upper Grosvenor Galleries in London.[13] [3] She was an elected member of the Society of Industrial Artists.[2] Apart from art, Drummond started a self-named productions company in 1960 as chairperson.[12] Drummond was married and had one child before her death on 7 February 2000 in Essex.[3] [2]

Books illustrated by Drummond

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: V. H. Drummond. 1972. Third Book of Junior Authors. The H. W. Wilson Company. New York. 13 December 2020. De Montreville. Doris. Hill. Donna. 78 . 0824204085.
  2. Book: Gray, Sara. Dark River. 2019. British Women Artists. A Biographical Dictionary of 1000 Women Artists in the British Decorative Arts. 93 . 978-1-911121-63-3.
  3. News: V. H. Drummond . 21 January 2021 . The Times . 25 March 2000 . London . 24 . . ProQuest.
  4. Encyclopedia: Drummond, Violet H.. 1975. Illustrators of Books for Young People. The Scarecrow Press, Inc.. Metuchen, N. J.. 13 December 2020. Ward. Martha E.. Second. 52. 0810808196. Marquardt. Dorothy A..
  5. Book: Buckman, David . Art Dictionaries Ltd. 2006. Artists in Britain Since 1945 Vol 1, A to L. 438. 0-953260-95-X.
  6. Encyclopedia: Violet Hilda Drummond. 1984. Book Illustrators of the Twentieth Century. Acro Publishing Inc.. New York. 13 December 2020. Peppin. Brigid. Micklethwait. Lucy. 87. 0668056703.
  7. Encyclopedia: Drummond, V(iolet) H(ilda) 1911-. 1975. Contemporary Authors. Gale Research Company. Detroit. 20 January 2021. Kinsman. Claire E.. First Revision. 13-16. 230. 0810300273.
  8. Book: Alan Horne. Antique Collectors' Club. 1994. The Dictionary of 20th Century British Book Illustrators. 1-85149-1082.
  9. Encyclopedia: Drummond, V(iolet) H(iilda). 1978. Twentieth-century Children's Writers. The Macmillan Press Ltd.. London and Basingstoke. 20 January 2021. Thwaite. Ann. Kirkpatrick. D. L.. 382. 9780333234143.
  10. Web site: Kate Greenaway Medal Winners . The CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Children's Book Awards . 20 January 2021.
  11. Encyclopedia: Drummond, Violet H.. 1968. Illustrators of children's books, 1957-1966. The Horn Book Inc.. Boston. 20 January 2021 . Kingman. Lee. Foster . Joanne. Lontoft. Ruth Giles. 101. 47-31264.
  12. Encyclopedia: Drummond, V(iolet) H(ilda) 1911-. 1974. Something About the Author. Gale Research Book Tower. Detroit. 20 January 2021. Commire. Anne. 6. 71 . 0810300605.
  13. Encyclopedia: Drummond, V.H.. 1986. Who's who in art. The Art Trade Press Ltd. Havant, Hants. 20 January 2021. Twenty-Second. 137. 0900083115.