Irene Bass Sutton Wellington (1904–1984) was an influential British calligrapher and teacher of

calligraphy Calligraphy (from el, link=y, καλλιγραφία) is a visual art related to writing. It is the design and execution of lettering with a pen, ink brush, or other writing instrument. Contemporary calligraphic practice can be defined as "t ...

Early life

Born in Lydd, Kent, in 1904, Irene Bass attended Ashford County School, and later Maidstone School of Art, where she began her study of calligraphy in 1921. She was influenced by Edward Johnston's book, ''Writing & Illuminating & Lettering'' (1906). In 1925 she won a Royal Exhibition scholarship to the Royal College of Art, where Johnston taught, and earned a diploma with a specialty in calligraphy. She was his assistant at the Royal College of Art in 1928.

Career

In 1929, Irene Bass was elected a Craft Member of the Society of Scribes and Illuminators. In 1930, she married her cousin, Ernest John Sutton, and moved to Edinburgh. Shortly thereafter, she began work on her first major commission, "The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Roll of Honour for the First World War." Edward Johnston recommended Irene Sutton as an instructor to Hubert Wellington, the principal of the Edinburgh College of Art. She taught there from 1932 to 1943; one of her students at Edinburgh was

Tom Gourdie Tom Gourdie MBE, DA, FSSI (18 May 1913 – 6 January 2005) was a prominent Scottish calligrapher, artist and teacher. He also was the author of several books, mainly on subject matter related to calligraphy. Early life and initiation into call ...

. Her marriage to Jack Sutton was annulled in September 1944, allowing her to marry Hubert Wellington a few months later. She moved with him to

Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire Henley-on-Thames ( ) is a town and civil parish on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England, northeast of Reading, west of Maidenhead, southeast of Oxford and west of London (by road), near the tripoint of Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Bucking ...

. Irene Wellington then began the most significant phase of her career, undertaking major commissions and teaching for the Central School of Arts and Crafts in London from 1944 to 1959. Among her students, there were Donald Jackson and Anne Hechle. Although she produced a large body of work for private clients and personal acquaintances during this period, she also received several significant public commissions. Her last major public commission was "The Bailiffs of Lydd," which she produced to honor the guildhall of Lydd, her birthplace. Although she published little during her lifetime, her copybooks have been widely used in calligraphy instruction. She died in 1984. The Irene Wellington Educational Trust supports the "advancement of the education of the public in the arts of calligraphy and fine lettering" through grants to individuals and organizations.

Significant commissions

* The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Roll of Honour for the First World War (1930–31) * The

Wykehamist Winchester College is a public school (fee-charging independent day and boarding school) in Winchester, Hampshire, England. It was founded by William of Wykeham in 1382 and has existed in its present location ever since. It is the oldest of the ...

Roll of Honour (1948) * The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Roll of Honour for the Second World War (1948–50) * The Accession Address (1952), commissioned by the London County Council and presented to

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...

* The Coronation Address (1953), commissioned by the London County Council and presented to

* The Bailiffs of Lydd (1972–73), commissioned by the Borough of Lydd, Kent for Lydd Guildhall

References

External links

Finding guide, Irene Wellington Archive, Crafts Study Centre Archives

Images of Irene Wellington's calligraphy
VADS (the online resource for Visual Arts) {{DEFAULTSORT:Wellington, Irene 1904 births 1984 deaths British calligraphers British graphic designers Alumni of the Royal College of Art People associated with the Royal College of Art Academics of the Central School of Art and Design Edinburgh College of Art Women calligraphers British women graphic designers People from Lydd