Brief Biography: Father and daughter

HERBERT WILLIAM GIBBS (1852-1940)

Public servant and artist

Herbert worked as a newspaper cartoonist in 1889 and next year was drawing master at Perth High School. In April 1891 he joined the Lands and Survey Department as a draftsman and clerk; he was clerk in charge of information from 1894 until he retired in December 1917.

Active in the artistic life of Perth, Gibbs was a founder in 1890 with B. H. Woodward, H. C. Prinsep and G. Temple Poole of the Wilgie Club, and of the West Australian Society of Arts and Crafts, exhibiting with them in 1896-97 and 1902-03. He painted landscapes in oils and watercolours and was interested in printmaking, sculpture and wood-carving.

He and his wife Cecie were also active in the Musical Union and the Amateur Operatic Society, which presented Gilbert and Sullivan operas.

(Cecelia) MAY GIBBS (1877-1969)

Author, artist, illustrator and cartoonist.

1881 arrived (South) Australia aged 4.

1885 arrived Harvey, West Australia aged 8.

1887 arrived Perth, West Australia aged 10.

1889 arrived South Perth, West Australia aged 12.

Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies were the first in a series of five wildflower baby books by May Gibbs, published by Angus & Robertson in 1916 and sold out immediately.

May is most famous for her Australian children's classic, Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, her use of Australian native flora and fauna endears her to Australians. She was one of the earliest authors and illustrators to showcase Australian fauna and flora, including an environmental and conservation plea to all with her words: “Humans, please be kind to all Bush creatures and don't pull flowers up by the roots”.

Arriving in South Perth, an isolated artist's colony in c1890 Herbert, Cecie, children Bertie, Ivan and May lived together at ‘The Dune’, a bungalow on the corner of Harper Street and Suburban Road (now Mill Point Road). This was to be the family home until Herbert’s and Cecie’s death in the 1940’s. The multi talented Gibbs’ family quickly became part of the early artistic community of South Perth. May was encouraged to draw and paint from a young age and at the tender age of 12 her illustrations were published in the Bulletin. By 1906 South Perth was becoming a tourist destination and a dormitory suburb for the city.

The Zoo opened in 1898 and Mends Street became a part of the tourist walk from ferry to zoo. Living close to all this activity, one of May Gibbs’ early cartoons depicts well-known South Perth residents (including first Zoo Director Ernest Le Souef on a bicycle) hurrying along Mends Street to catch the Duchess to Perth.

May grew into adulthood in the tranquility of South Perth in the 1900 era – relying heavily on the Perth - South Perth ferry service – with the construction of the Narrows Bridge six decades away.

Over the years, she travelled numerous times to study art in London where she obtained experience as a contributor to newspapers, magazines and books. At the age of 36, having spent twenty-four years living predominately with her parents, May left Perth to settle in Sydney. The major book publishers were based in Sydney, thus her career as an illustrator, cartoonist and book writer grew strongly.

Aside from being an artist, May was also a clever entrepreneur. She produced handmade calendars, which were sold at a number of retail outlets. She cut out her designs from sheets of printed-paper and created calendars of all shapes and sizes. It was during World War I that May Gibbs produced her unique Australiana postcards to boost the morale of Australian troops overseas.

May and her husband, J. Ossoli Kelly, resided in their waterfront cottage ‘Nutcote’, designed by a renowned Sydney architect, B.J. Waterhouse, until her death. Her lovely gardens, from which she drew much inspiration, continue to frame this charming house, ‘Nutcote’ is well worth a visit when in Sydney.

The art of May Gibbs is full of charm and diversity, ranging from cartoons and portrait sketches to her Australian bush babies.

ILLUSTRATED CHILDREN'S BOOKS OF MAY GIBBS

Her enchanting stories of bushland adventures has continued to entertain children of all ages from the first edition of Gum-Nut Babies and Gum-Blossom Babies published by Angus and Robertson in 1916. What followed was a cavalcade of tales from Boronia Babies (1917), Tales of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie (1918), Little Ragged Blossom (1920) and Mr. and Mrs. Bear (1943).

Apart from her books, she also drew a regular cartoon strip known as Bib and Bub and several children's colouring-in books for playtime.

Many of the designs by May Gibbs have been incorporated into retail merchandise, from postcards, journal diaries and calendars, to curtains and wrapping papers.