Walter Crane (1845-1915)

Illustrator and painter born in Liverpool. As a young man of fourteen he was apprenticed to William James Linton an engraver, 1859-62. He also furthered his art studies at Heatherley's in London. In 1863, he met Edmund Evans, the pioneer of colour printing, and they soon began to produce the long series of cheap children's picture books which made Crane's name. From 1867, he also worked for the Dalziel brothers and his work was reproduced in the periodicals Once a Week and Fun. About this time he began to exhibit his paintings and showed at the Dudley Gallery and eventually at every major gallery of his time. These included exhibits at the RA, FAS, GI, RI, Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, Leicester Galleries, London Salon, with the Society of Painters in Tempera, RBA, RHA, ROI, RSA and at theRWS of which he was an elected member. He was also much concerned with art education, and was appointed as an Examiner in Design to the Board of