Mary Barbara Bailey

Sister Mary Barbara Bailey (28 June 1910 – 4 May 2003) was a British Roman Catholic nun who illustrated the original Bunnykins tableware series which was manufactured by the Royal Doulton factory, whose manufacturing director was her own father, Cuthbert Bailey.

Early years

Born as Barbara Vernon Bailey at Bulkeley Hall, Woore, Shropshire, she was the second daughter of Cuthbert and Constance Bailey. She drew the countryside, and the animals kept by her six siblings, including pigs, cows, horses and ferrets. In 1934, her father planned to make children's nurseryware using his daughter's illustrations.^{[citation needed]}

As nun

In 1933 she became a Canoness Regular of the Lateran Order (an Augustinian nun) and took the name Sister Mary Barbara. She resided in an enclosed convent in Sussex. Permission for the project was granted by the prioress on the condition of no financial recompense from the project for Sister Mary Barbara or the convent.^[1]

Sister Mary Barbara ceased illustrating and drawing when her teaching duties made her too busy. Other designers (such as Hubert Light, Walter Hayward, Colin Twinn and Frank Endersby) took over the designing process.^[2]

Death

Sister Mary Barbara Bailey died on 4 May 2003 at Haywards Heath, West Sussex, aged 92.

References

1. ^ Obituary in The Times Online
2. ^ Royal Doulton website

External links

• Biodata
• Obituary in The Independent
• L.A. Times obituary