Frank Reynolds (1876-1953)
Painter and illustrator who was born in London, the son of an artist. He studied at Heatherley's School of Fine Art, c. 1890 and exhibited at the RA, RI and was elected RI in 1903.
His name is associated with the Illustrated London News, The Sketch, and Punch. Reynolds also illustrated books, including the works of Dickens.
A contributor to Punch from 1906, Reynolds joined the staff in 1919 and, a year later, became Art Editor, a post he retained for over a decade.
Friend and illustrator John Hassall advised him to move from pen and ink to pencil and crayon, as well as watercolour, a switch that resulted in a more fluid style of cartoon.
His illustrations for Dickens’ novels in 1910-12 were a great success, with his characters used in advertising for Buchanan’s Scotch Whiskies. One of Reynolds’ most famous First World War drawings for Punch depicts a German family sitting around the breakfast table indulging in their “morning hate”.
In 1933, he resigned his membership of the RI, and moved to Thames Ditton, Surrey ostensibly to retire. But, as his well-liked creation 'The Bristlewoods' demonstrated, he continued to illustrate right through the 1930’s and into the period of WWII.
Bibliography: Epaulettes-Service types by Torin Blair, illustrated by Frank Reynolds. Published by S. H. Bousfield & Co, London, 1902.
The Frank Reynolds Golf Book: Drawings from ‘Punch,’ etc. Published by Methuen & Co, London, 1932.
The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens, illustrated by Frank Reynolds. Published by Hodder & Stoughton, London, 1913.
With thanks to artbiogs.co.uk