Billie Waters

1896 - 1979

Phyllis Mary Waters, known as Billie, was born in Richmond, Surrey, the daughter of a London solicitor. She studied under Henry Massey at Heatherley's School of Fine Art and with Iain Macnab at the Grosvenor School of Modern Art. From 1926 to 1931 she also studied with Ernest Proctor and Harold Harvey in Newlyn. Proctor, with whom she may have had an affair, had a lasting impression on her work. She exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1928, continuing to do so for most of her career. She also exhibited at the New English Art Club, Royal Institute of Oil Painters, Goupil Gallery, Society of Women Artists and elsewhere. She lived in London and continued to visit Lelant, Cornwall on a regular basis. She made several highly successful series of animal prints which sold in thousands.