GARDNER, Delphis

1900 - 1959

Delphis Gardner

Delphis Gardner was born at Farm Corner, Tadworth, Surrey on 17 December 1900 and baptised at St Andrew, Kingswood on 23 January 1901, second daughter of Professor Ernest Arthur Gardner (16 March 1862-27 November 1939), of London University College, and his Irish born wife Mary née Wilson (c1862-1936), who married at Lewisham in 1887. Like her sister Phyllis, Delphis was educated at St Felix School at Southwold in Suffolk and studied at University College, London and at the Slade School of Fine Art. A wood engraver, carver and printer, a partner with her sister Phyllis (6 October 1890-16 February 1939) in the Asphodel Press and joined her sister in publishing two books 'The Tale of Troy' (1924) and 'The Apostles Creed' (1929,) which they both illustrated; she also collaborated with her sister in illustrating 'The Irish Wolfhound' (Dundalgan Press 1931) and were authors of several other works. Delphis exhibited at the Alpine Club Gallery; Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society; Women's International Art Club and the Society of Women Artists. They lived at Recess, Boyn Road, Maidenhead but about 1949, she and her younger brother Christopher Stewart moved to a farm at Bently, Curracloe in Ireland. Delphis Gardner was of Bently, Curracloe, co. Wexford when she died of pneumonia at Wexford County Hospital in 1959, and buried in Ardcolm Churchyard, she was unmarried.