Francis Helps (1890-1972)

Painter, draughtsman and teacher, born in Dulwich, southeast London. At DulwichCollege, 1903-7, Helps was the only boy to take art lessons and had a private tutor. In 1908 went to Slade School of Fine Art, where taught by Henry Tonks and Fred Brown. In 1915 Helps volunteered for service with Artists' Rifles, serving in France. In 1924 he joined the 1922-4 Everest Expedition as official artist, completing 8o paintings and drawings, most now in America. Between 1931-4 Helps taught at Royal College of Art, then volunteered to be evacuated with it to Ambleside, in the Lake District, 1940-4. From 1953 until his retirement Helps was head of the school of painting in Leeds, where he settled, returning in his last year to Bromley, Kent. Helps showed with RBA, of which he was elected a member in 1933, and in 1924 had a show at Alpine Club Gallery of his Himalayan work. Further shows were at City Art Gallery, Leeds, 1959; Manor House Museum and A