Alice Kirkby Goyder (1875-1964) was a Bradford-born painter, etcher, wood sculptor, and children’s book author and illustrator, noted for her depictions of animals (image above, from Holiday in Catland.)
She was the eldest of four surviving children to father, David, a local medical practitioner, and mother, Anne. The family lived in the Great Horton district of Bradford.
Alice studied art initially at the nearby Bradford School of Art, then attended the Jopling School of Art in London that had opened in 1887 and offered a progressive art education for women under the supervision of the Paris-trained artist, Louise Jane Jopling.
By the end of her art education, Alice was able to paint in oils and watercolour, and had learned dry point etching, printmaking, and wood carving. She had also begun to specialise in depicting animals in her work, although she also painted landscapes.
Alice returned to live in the family home in Bradford, where she registered herself for census purposes as ‘Animal Painter’. She began to exhibit work in London and elsewhere in Britain. She was the author and illustrator of her first children’s book with cat characters, The Dignity of the Race’, published in 1894.
In 1897 she won a silver medal at the 1897 Women’s Exhibition in London.
Between 1899 and 1939 she was a regular exhibitor at Royal Academy shows in London, as well as a long standing membership and exhibition history with shows of the Society of Women Artists – she was active with the Society for over 50 years between 1900 – 1953. She also exhibited artwork at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolours, and was a member of the Print Society.
Dry-point etching print by Alice K. Goyder, ‘Stranded’. Image: in a private collection.
Outside of London, she also exhibited work at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and Manchester City Art Gallery, and was an active member of the Bradford Art Club, exhibiting work at their shows locally. After she moved to homes in Kent and Suffolk, she continued her association with the Art Club, including exhibiting work at their annual shows.
By 1920 she had moved to the Faversham area of Kent, became a member of the East Kent Art Society and continued to exhibit work in Kent with the Art Society, as well as at shows in London and elsewhere.
By 1930 she had moved again to Suffolk to live at Little Marley, Orford, Suffolk, with relatives, and had become a member of the Ipswich Art Club, where she exhibited a range of artwork over a thirty year period, including on one occasion, a needle-craft landscape study. She was a resident of Suffolk until her death in 1964.
The British Museum hold examples of her print-work and after her death the publisher,Chatto and Windus, in 1978 published three children’s books written and illustrated by Alice: Christmas in Catland; Holiday in Catland; and Party in Catland.
See also Suffolk Artists – Alice K. Goyder