Claude Allin Shepperson

Claude Allin Shepperson (1867-1921) at first studied law but at 24 years decided to rather be an artist. He eventually became a cartoonist, painter, printmaker, etcher, illustrator, and lithographer. He was well-known by depicting people and animals in lively, natural poses. One of his specialties were fairies. The illustrations for a song A Spell for a Fairy by Alfred Noyes published in Princess Mary's Gift Book in 1914 served for the notorious prank known as Cottingley Fairies.  Shepperson's paintings are displayed in many important galleries and museums like Tate, British Museum, Honor Museums of San Francisco, V&A and all over the world.

He died of complications, caused by pneumonia.

The Fairies Night Flight by Bridge and River, watercolor

Here are a few more facts about Claude A. Shepperson's life:

• Shepperson worked for Punch from 1905 almost to his death. The major theme of his cartoons were scenes from contemporary society. This definitely 'helped' to make him a war artist who portrayed soldiers in World War I. He was almost 50 years old then.

• He illustrated numerous books, namely for Charles Dickens (The Haunted Man, Christmas Carol), Edith Nesbit (Nine Unlikely Tales) and Kate Douglas Wiggin (The Diary of a Goose Girl). He was also the original illustrator of Puck of Pook's Hill by Rudyard Kipling which at first appeared in Strand Magazine between January and October 1906 (the book edition was illustrated by Shepperson's contemporary Harold Robert Millar and later expanded with color plates by Arthur Rackham).

• His ability to catch the charm and elegance of the female figure in a relaxed yet almost aristocratic way what led to creating a characteristic so-called Shepperson girl character.