Edward Hull (watercolorist)

Edward Hull (1823-1906), a well-known illustrator and watercolour painter, exhibited at the Royal Academy in London.

Born in Keysoe in Bedfordshire, England, the second son of a farmer, he painted many watercolours but was mainly known as a book illustrator. He was employed for many years up to 1861 by The Illustrated Times the best-known publication in London, and was an illustrator for several books such as Stratford on Avon by Sidney Lee (published around 1890) and "The Laureate's Country" (a book on Alfred Tennyson) by Alfred J. Church, published around the same time.

Edward Hull symbolises the spirit of illustration in the 19th Century. The great illustrators such a Phiz (who illustrated many of Dickens's books) are well known. Edward Hull represents the many who plied their trade in periodicals and books before the advent of photography in the early 20th Century.

Edward Hull was born in Keysoe, Bedfordshire, but lived most of his life in London. He travelled widely in England as his paintings and illustrations show. He married and had two daughters and three granddaughters. He died on 3rd February, 1906 and is buried in St Peters Church in Sharnbrook in Bedfordshire.

Edward's brother was William Hull (artist), (1820-1880) - a famous watercolour painter.

[cite web
url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dictionary-19th-Century-British-Illustrators/dp/1851491937/ref=sr_1_3/203-5887215-1736706?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177941894&sr=8-3
title=The Dictionary of 19th Century British Book Illustrators (p186)]

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