B. 1888 – 1960 

Born in Melbourne, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite is one of Australia’s most important illustrators. She was born into an artistic and literary family, and alongside her sister, published her first book at age 16. She continued to rise in prominence throughout the early 1900s, publishing her first book with coloured illustrations – Elves and Fairies – with Thomas Lothian in 1916. It directly followed Lothian’s fine art publication on Frederick McCubbin’s work. 

Outhwaite is best known for her images of fairytales inflected with Australian culture; fairies and elves move between gum trees, nestle with kookaburras or speak with koalas. One of her books was gifted to an infant Princess Elizabeth, who would go on to become Queen. As was necessary for women of the time, Outhwaite supplemented her artistic pursuits with commercial work, illustrating advertising material for local furniture companies and even the British Imperial Oil Company. 

Despite her talent and lifetime success, Outhwaite’s legacy is only now being recognised with the help of scholars and collectors. A portrait of her by Amalie Colquhoun hangs in the National Library of Australia and in 1985, she was honoured with an Australian postage stamp featuring one of her illustrations.

To read a more in-depth biography of the artist, click here.