Bernard Sleigh

1872 - 1954

Sleigh was born in Kings Norton, south of Birmingham. When aged 14 his father died and he was obliged to leave school and become apprenticed to a wood engraver. At the sametime he attended the Birmingham School of Art under Arthur Gaskin, coming under the influence of the Birmingham Group. For a time he worked at an skillful illustrator for small presses and also taught engraving. His early paintings and watercolours were heavily influenced by Burne-Jones and his circle. In addition to his paintings, murals and illustrations he also involved in the decorative arts, designing stained glass, metal work and inlayed furniture. He joined the Society of Mural Decorators and Painters in Tempera and was a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists between 1923 and 1928. He worked from most of his life in Birmingham but travelled widely throughout Britain and Europe. In 1937 Sleigh following in the footsteps of his mentor Arthur Gaskin and retired to the Cotswold town of Chipping Camden, living at Old Forge Cottage in Cider Mill Lane.

At the age of 24 he suffered a brain aneurysm, resulting in a trepanning operation which he claims changed his outlook on life and led to his interest in mystical and fairy subjects. He as deeply affected by the horrors of World War I and took refuge in the world of his imagination. At this time he created his famous lithograph "An Ancient Mappe of ... show more

Sleigh was born in Kings Norton, south of Birmingham. When aged 14 his father died and he was obliged to leave school and become apprenticed to a wood engraver. At the sametime he attended the Birmingham School of Art under Arthur Gaskin, coming under the influence of the Birmingham Group. For a time he worked at an skillful illustrator for small presses and also taught engraving. His early paintings and watercolours were heavily influenced by Burne-Jones and his circle. In addition to his paintings, murals and illustrations he also involved in the decorative arts, designing stained glass, metal work and inlayed furniture. He joined the Society of Mural Decorators and Painters in Tempera and was a member of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists between 1923 and 1928. He worked from most of his life in Birmingham but travelled widely throughout Britain and Europe. In 1937 Sleigh following in the footsteps of his mentor Arthur Gaskin and retired to the Cotswold town of Chipping Camden, living at Old Forge Cottage in Cider Mill Lane.

At the age of 24 he suffered a brain aneurysm, resulting in a trepanning operation which he claims changed his outlook on life and led to his interest in mystical and fairy subjects. He as deeply affected by the horrors of World War I and took refuge in the world of his imagination. At this time he created his famous lithograph "An Ancient Mappe of

Fairyland, Newly Discovered and Set Forth".

Works by Sleigh are in the Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery and the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum.