Greta Tomlinson was a pioneer for women of her day, a gifted artist whose approach to life was fearless at a time when female artists were not fully recognised for their true talent. Greta was a superb draftswoman, artist and true colourist who lived and worked in many different countries, loved travelling, painting, writing and recording everything she saw. Always elegant and sophisticated, Greta had a very keen eye for fashion and design which lead her to preserve a collection of distinctive period clothes and shoes belonging to both her and her mother. Her collection of costume and accessories will be offered in the Fashion, Costume & Textiles Sale on 7th February.
Greta was born in Burnley, Lancashire in 1927. She studied at Burnley School of Art and went onto be one of the youngest students to be accepted to the Slade School of Fine Art, aged just 16. She studied in Oxford at the Ashmolean Museum when the Slade was relocated during the Second World War, and back in London after the war.
She is perhaps best known for her work as one of the original artists at the beloved 1950s The Eagle magazine featuring Dan Dare, ‘Pilot of the Future’, in which Greta became the role model for Professor Peabody in the series, the only female scientist and member of the space crew. A truly groundbreaking role for a woman at that time. Greta applied for the job at Frank Hampson’s studio in Southport, working on the concept for The Eagle magazine. She recalled her first impression of the studio at The Bakehouse, “I arrived to find that the studio was a lean-to shed that had once been a bakery. It was very, very basic, with a flagstone floor, and a tin roof and only cold running water in the corner. It was freezing cold in the winter and boiling hot in the summer, however when I saw Frank’s work on the board, I knew I just had to have this job!” Greta was offered the job at £4 10/- a week. Initially, based in Southport, Hampson’s small team produced “Dan Dare”, “Rob Conway” and “Tommy Wallis” for the weekly comic.
As a figurative artist Greta drew the figures which Frank Hampson would use to develop the characters. The work was rewarding but punishing, at times working all night to meet print deadlines. The artists used Poly photo technology to create the scenes in the studio, then drafted the cartoon strips for the magazine. The Eagle was first published on April 14th, 1950, and was an immediate success.
In 1954/5 Greta worked as a Fashion Artist at Rowntrees Department Store in Scarborough, where her work was often published in The Yorkshire Post and Yorkshire Life Magazine. She was delighted when one particular outfit sold out after her illustration in the newspaper.
Her life took her to live abroad, flying for the first time very much into the unknown, to meet up with her future husband in Baghdad where they married in 1956. Living in Iran, Kuwait, Nigeria and Spain she travelled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa, always recording experiences through her art in watercolour, oils, acrylics, collage and sculpture. People, design and colour were her inspiration, and her work exploded into vibrant colour after her first visit to Morocco.
Greta had an intelligent and enquiring mind and was an independent and forward thinker. She never stopped painting and recording what she saw throughout her life, even when she was tragically losing her sight from Macular Degeneration in her later years. She won many prizes and has exhibited throughout England and abroad, her work is held in many private collections.
She felt very proud to have been part of the Dan Dare team. She was a truly remarkable person with an indomitable spirit, who lived an extraordinary life through times, experiences and places now sadly lost to us.
Highlights of her collection include a lot of Circa 1950s Evening Wear (estimate: £150-250), and a Circa 1980s Chanel Navy Quilted Shoulder Bag and a Navy Leather Purse (estimate: £800-1,200), and featured labels include Jocelyn Purdy, Samuels Manchester, Vernon & Humpage and more.
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