About Jersey Artist Edmund Blampied Born in Saint Martin in Jersey on March 30 1886, Edmund Blampied is one of the most well-regarded artists from the Channel Islands. He was brought up on a farm and never knew his father John, as he died 5 days before his birth. Blampied grew up around his 3 brothers and his mother who was a shopkeeper and dressmaker.
Over his career, the artist produced drypoints and etchings as well as illustrations for a number of publications. At Stephen Cohu Antiques we have a large selection of his work available in Jersey. For more, call us today on 01534 485177 .
Education and Career After completing parochial school aged 14, Edmund Blampied started working at a local town architects office. It was here that he started drawing using pen and ink, with some of his work being shown at an agricultural show in 1902. After this, local private art school owner Mlle Marie Josephine Klintz gave him formal lessons in watercolours.
At the age of 16, he went on to study at the Lambeth School of Art in London in 1903. Here he won a scholarship to continue his studies and had his worked featured in The Daily Chronicle. The artist's first etchings date back to 1909 and in 1911 Blampied started life as an independent artist. Work of his featured in several publications including Pearson's Magazine, The Sphere as well as Leicester Galleries.
Military Years With the introduction of conscription in 1916, Edmund Blampied decided to go back to Jersey to serve. However, he was found not fit for service and instead worked as a guard for the Royal Jersey Militia. During this time he continued to complete illustrations and after the First World War returned to London in 1919.
Held at Leicester Galleries, 28 etchings and drypoints were put on display marking the artists first solo exhibition. He also had exhibitions in New York in 1922 and won a Gold Medal for his lithographs at the 1925 Exposition Internationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris.
Illustrations On top of his other skills, Blampied started to work more with illustrations. He designed book covers for the likes of Hodder & Stoughton, Fisher Unwin, and William Collins. He left London in 1926 and decided to travel Tunisia, before becoming a cartoonist in the early 1930s.
He was elected to the Royal Society of British Artists in 1938 and was responsible for preparing illustrations of Peter Pan and Wendy which were published in 1939.
Later Life By this point, Blampied had decided to move back to Jersey. However, in 1940 the Channel Islands became occupied by the Germans. Even though his wife Marianne van Abbe was Jewish, the two decided to stay in Jersey. Despite being cut off from his connections, he still managed to complete work. Edmund Blampied died August 26 1966 at the age of 80 in Jersey.
As experienced art and antique dealers, we have a wide and varied selection of Blampied's work. For more, please feel free to get in contact with us.