Mary Hoad 

(Kent 1908-1968) 

The Dressmaker, 1940

oil on canvas laid down on card

signed and dated lower right 'MARY HOAD 1940'

36 x 29 cm.

Provenance

From the Estate of Mary Millar Watt (1924-2023)

Mary Hoad studied at Beckenham Art School before attending the Chelsea School of Art from 1927-1929 and after the war for a short time at Guildford School of Art. Like many women artists of her day, she found employment in art education. She served on the editorial board of Athene, the journal for the Society for Education in Art, which organised the 'Pictures for Schools' exhibitions. 

Her paintings from the 1940s like this one were wonderfully observational scenes from day-to-day life, and almost cartoon-like in their presentation of a moment frozen in time. 

She was art advisor to the Hertfordhsire Education Committee between 1948-1951, and Principal of St. Albans School of Art from 1952-1967.