OSMOND, Edward

1900 - 1981

Edward Osmond was born at Orford, Suffolk on 6 May 1900, son of Revd Percy Herbert Osmond (22 July 1872-6 January 1964), clerk in holy orders and former rector of Cape Colony, South Africa, and his wife Joyce Agnes Philippa née Sadler (13 March 1893-16 April 1984), who married at Hackney, London in 1897 and in 1939 were living at The Rectory, Avington, Winchester. In 1901, Edward was a newly born, living at The Limes, Bramley, Hambleton, Surrey with his parents, 28-year-old Percy and 28-year-old Agnes but by 1911 they had moved to The Rectory, Avington, near Alresford, Hampshire with the addition of three siblings, Phoebe Hope, born 15 July 1902 in Cape Colony, Bernard 5, born at Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire and Chloe Faith, born 28 July 1909 at Ewshot, Hampshire. Edward was educated privately and studied at Regent Street Polytechnic from 1917, earning his Art Teacher's Diploma and a Diploma in Art History in 1924. He taught part-time at Hastings College of Technology, Sussex and at Hornsey College of Art whilst exhibiting his work, primarily painting in oils and illustrations in wash and line. A painter, illustrator, and author, he began writing and illustrating his own books in the early 1950s, the first of which 'A Valley Grows Up' (Oxford University Press 1953) which won the Carnegie Medal for the year's most outstanding children's book in 1954. He married at St Philip's Church, Norbury, Croydon on 12 November 1927, Constance Marion Biggs (18 December 1902-3 November 2001), known as Laurie Osmond, also an artist and sculptor and Edward illustrated her 'The Thames Flows Down' (1957). In 1939 Edward, his wife and daughter Christine G. (Helliwell born 14 October 1934), were living at 33 High View, Pinner, Harrow, Middlesex. Edward was an Associate of the Royal Society of British Artists from 1926 and exhibited there and at the Walker Art Gallery and the at Royal Academy between 1924 and 1928. Edward Osmond died at Lewes, Sussex in 1981. He signed his works 'Edward Osmond' capital letters.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from 4 Studio, 142 Brecknock Road, North London
1924 857 The Mouth of the Hamble - watercolour
1925 729 Water Meadows - watercolour
from Lawrence Studio, 2 Bream Buildings, London EC
1926 661 Littledown - watercolour
from Lawrence Studio, 73 Brixton Hill, London SW
1928 721 'Pierrot Alone...' - watercolour

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Works by This Artist