SNELL, May

1871 - 1933

Ellen Marian Snell, known as May, was born at Dods Farm, Creeting St Mary, Needham Market, Suffolk and baptised at Creeting St Mary on 10 September 1871, daughter of William Henry Snell (1841-27 May 1897), gentleman farmer of Nettlestead Hall, and his wife Ellen Julian (1838-4 November 1921), youngest daughter of Naunton Julian of Walton, Suffolk, who married at St George's Kidderminster on 18 May 1867, young Ellen used the christian name of May to avoid confusion with her mother. In 1881, May was a 9-year-old, living at Dods Farmhouse, Creeting St Mary with her parents, 39-year-old William and 42-year-old Ellen and two siblings, Alice Maud 8 and Herbert William James 5. May studied at the Ipswich School of Art passing her examinations in 1893 winning several awards. Her father died at Dods Farm in 1897, when May's mother together with May's brother Herbert (1875-1961) took over the running the farm. About 1902 her mother Ellen, together with daughters 39-year-old May and 38-year-old Alice, moved to 44 Anglesea Road, Ipswich. A flower painter and as May Snell, a member of the Ipswich Fine Art Club 1895-1903, exhibiting from (West) Hill House, Needham Market in 1893, two oils 'A Rocky Shore, Penmaenmaw' and 'Carmarthen', in 1894 'Golden Blossom', in 1895 'Oranges', 'Almond Blossom' and 'Anemones', in 1896 'French Lavoir', 'In the Pine Wood, Sarthe, France' 'Brown and Gold' and seven others, in 1898 'Daffodils', 'Anemone Japonica' and 'Christmas Roses', in 1900 'Still Life Group', 'Roses' and 'Old Mill at Beddgelert, North Wales' and a further 8 pictures in 1901. From 1902 she exhibited from West Hill House, Anglesea Road, Ipswich a further 33 pictures 1902-1906, she also exhibited at the Royal Academy, at the Royal Institute of Oil Painters from Needham Market in 1901 and Ipswich in 1902. She was still living in Anglesea Road, Ipswich in 1911 and, as Ellen Marian Snell, she died at 44 Anglesea Road, Ipswich on 21 September 1933, she was unmarried.

Royal Academy Exhibits
from Hill House, Needham Market, Suffolk
1901 768 Tulips




Works by This Artist