Olivia Mary Bryden

  Notes:

1891 Census (age 7) living in boarding house at 9 Christchurch Road, Hampstead with parents.

1901 Census; (age 17) living with parents in Eastbourne, Sussex. Kate St John Wright (Olivia's cousin) is also living with them, as well as one servant.
According to Ann St John Wright's (curtailed) biog Kate and Olivia went to School together in Eastbourne.

1911 Census; Living (age 27) at 10 Gore Park Avenue, Eastbourne with parents and a servant. Occupation; Artist.

Has painting hung in National Portrait Gallery;
http://www.npg.org.uk/live/search/person.asp?LinkID=mp06740&role=art
It's a painting of her fathers friend Frederick Courteney Selous

Can't find any marriage or death records, but that's not conclusive, later: Wendy found death record, age 67.

London Gazette; Trustee Act Notice for claims etc; 27 Apr 1951; BRYDEN, Olivia Mary, Ormond Lodge, 8, Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, Sussex, formerly of The Dale, 35, Upperton Road, Eastbourne, Spinster. 15th April, 1951.

From eBay seller; "A portrait and decorative painter who studied at The Grande Chaumiere Academie and Colarossi’s, Paris. She also attended the Central School of Arts and Crafts and Westminster School of Art. Exhibitions included the SWA from 1918 - 1923." Asked seller where this info came from - they said supplied with picture when they bought it.
One of her paintings was pastel of ‘Sir George Thursby Bt - Master of New Forest Buckhounds’. Approx. size 21” x 17.5” [ 53.5cm x 44.5cm].
Another was portrait, bust-length, of Major Morland Greig, Master of the Devon and Somerset Stag hounds, 28.4 x 25.7 cm (11 1/8 x 10 1/8 in). Which was in Bonham sale in past, but can't find price.

NPG don't have much info on her, however they do report;
"We know little about Olivia Mary Bryden, but from the papers dealing with the acquisition of the portrait of Selous, I am able to give a little more information about her whereabouts. At the time of the portrait’s acquisition, in 1935, Miss Bryden’s address was 22 Belsize Avenue, Hampstead; she wrote in 1946 to enquire whether the portrait had survived the war and at that time was at The Dale, Upperton Road, Eastbourne."
This implies still unmarried at end of WWII and therefore prbly never married.

Andy Leggett reports that "in 1924 she was living at 28 Yeomans Row, Chelsea, London. Also at that address were painters Emily Gladys Court and Chloe Preston. My mother (Hilda Williams) was 10 at the time, living opposite at number 33 on the Kensington side of Yeomans Row. Olivia Bryden painted Mum's portrait. "

From Howell Wright archive at Yale;
Did a portrait of Maj. Morland Greig (Royal North Devon Hussars) Master of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds. Purchasers of copy included; Lt-Col Boles M.P., Sir Thomas Hewitt KC, Capt The Hon A.Herbert, Capt The Hon T.H.Watson, Capt. Forte DSO and others. Was selling copies for £1 1s 0d.!
Did portrait of Capt.F.C.Solous DSO. Purchasers of copies included; Lord Rothschild, Maj. Sir Rhys Williams DSO, Rider Haggard and the Earl of Crewe. Copies again £1 1s 0d.
Sold original oil of her father to Howell Wright for £15.
Also did picture of Archdeacon Wilberforce, Chaplain to the House of Commons, The Lord Bishop of London. And Admiral Cochrane.
Was an exhibitor at; Burlington House, Grosvenor Gallery, Fine Art Society, Royal Institue Galleries, Guildhall Art Gallery, etc. etc.
Was 'Portrait Painter' who was pupil of Lucien Simon (Paris), Rene Menard (Paris), Norman Garstin (Newlyn). Holder of the National Society of Art Masters Teachers Certificate and The Royal Drawing Society Teacher-Artist Certificate (Gold Star).
Gave lessons in; Oils, Water Colours, Pastel and Drawing (Elementary & Advanced). Schools and Private Pupils, Sketching classes.

Past address included;
1935; 22 Belsize Ave, Hampstead
1938; 2 Grove Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, Kent
1946 & 1947; The Dale, 35 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, Sussex

The Dictionary of British Women Artists;
BRYDEN, Olivia Mary (fl. 1920s-1930s). Painter/Decorative Artist. The dau of H.A. Bryden of Tunbridge Wells. Educated at West Hill School, Eastbourne. Studied at the Grand Chaumiere Academie and the Academie Colarossi in Paris, working under Lucien Simon, Rene Menard, Cottet and Henri Morisset. Also studied at the London County Council Central School of Arts and Crafts and the Westminster School of Art under N.G.Newlyn. Achieved a National Society of Art Masters' Certificate and a Royal Drawing Society Teacher Artist Certificate (Gold Star). Produced portraits and decorative works. Exhibited at Burlington House, The Grosvenor Galleries, the Fine Art Society, the Royal Institute Galleries, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Society of Women Artists (1922-33). Also, at the Guildhall Art Gallery, Wembley, the International Society of Sculptors, Painters and Gravers, the Royal Geographic Society, the Imperial War Museum and in Johannesburg. Purchasers of her work included the Royal Geographical Society. Other work carried out by Bryden included an altar frontal panel The Grail and The Raising of Jairus's Daughter for Brede Church, Sussex and a triptych for Highgate Church. Executed portratis of, for example, Major Morland Greig, Archdeacon Wilberforce, Captain C. Selons (sic) DSO and the Bishop of London. Based in Hampstead. She was elected a Member of the Imperial Arts League. Exhibited works included; Miss A. Goodenough and Joan of Arc's House, Rouen.