THIMBLE PAINTERS
It's very hard to find much information on thimbles produced by Royal Worcester. There is a list of Royal Worcester painters in Von Hoelle's Encyclopedia of Thimbles, but it's known to have been incomplete. Hopefully this listing will go somewhat to remedy this. The Sandon listing is only compiled until 1971.

The list of Royal Worcester thimble painters includes dates that each painter is known to have painted for Royal Worcester.
I have included as many examples as possible for each artist with the thimble's date being included where known.

The list is far from complete but now a start has been made, other names or thimbles can be added. To date there are 254 artists listed who are thought to have painted thimbles (this includes women painters' maiden and married names). Many of the early painters may never have painted thimbles!!
So far - with help from collectors around the world - 188 have examples of their thimbles included: we're over 3/4 ways there!! This means there are now only 66 thimbles to find by listed artists that are thought to have painted thimbles.
William Powell is the most all time prolific thimble artist at this stage!!

Please share your photos, especially if your handpainted thimble artist hasn't yet an example alongside. Thank you in advance.
As thimbles are so small, when names were too long they were sometimes shortened or only initials used. I have included the first names even when not part of the signature. If you know the first name of a RW painter, listed here, please share. Most signatures only contain the initial and surname. The signature is usually on the back of the thimble alongside a leaf or flower sprig. The early thimbles usually have the signature closer to the main painting, and not or the back.
They were never signed inside the thimble.

As more thimbles have been added to this site, scrolling down the page, you will notice how many identical paintings there are, done by different artists, especially amongst the later painters. Once you have handled or looked at the scenes, you will soon be able to identify the later style of painting [post 1970], even tho the thimbles aren't dated.

Have you ever thought why thimbles were painted? I understand that in the modern era [ie 1964 onwards], that thimbles were only painted when there was not many orders coming in and were used to practice their painting skills. I wonder if this was always so? They were so small so they were easy to finish but they were not really made to be sold!!
If only they could see the prices being fetched on eBay for these very same thimbles!!

The English garden birds commonly handpainted are - kingfishers, wrens, blue tits, bullfinches, goldfinches, chaffinchs, redstarts and robins, tho the expert bird painters will include more specialised birds.
Yellow roses predominate with flag irises, violets and forget-me-nots following, amongst the flower paintings in the modern era. Primroses, heather, pansies, morning glories, daffodils, anemones, crocuses, wattle, tulips, carnations and bluebells are some of the rarer flower paintings on RW thimbles.
Fruit is a much more modern topic for painting.
Do you collect RW thimbles by the painter, the era painted, the type of bird or the flower featured?

The modern painters include Fiona Bakewell, Christine Cameron, Janet Collins, Clair Cox, Pat Dunkley, Sheila Dutfield, Gioran Garcia, Mary Igoe, Angela Lawson, Helene Ligthert, Mandy Munslow, Christine Parker, Sue Roberts, Dorothy Sparks, Julia Vass, Christine Wilson - all who painted from the 1970s onwards.

With the modern painters, when the backstamp is not dated (ie 1964-), I have begun to use the generic date of "1970s-" to indicate that they are a later painter, where the smallest black backstamp has been used. When the modern black backstamp is larger - presumably for the 1960s, I have used "1960s- [larger backstamp]" for the painter. This is an on-going project and I will amend the dates as information on the backstamps comes to light. Obviously the best outcome will be when more accurate dates are used for the painters.
The painters may have been with RW at a later date but I feel that this information may be more useful this way? If you know more specific dates, please contact me with this information.

According to Henry Sandon, Royal Worcester thimbles made between 1860 and 1939 are of glazed parian body which is a creamier, smoother body than bone china, which is very white and translucent.

I have included some black and white photos where no other examples exist.

Hover over the thimble photo for the date painted, where it is included.

LISTED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER BY LAST NAME
A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - XYZ

' Abdul ' - Peter Platt's nickname
James Allen example of 'allen' signature example of 'j allen' signature 1937-1958 and 1971 - a protege of William Powell
A Amolet
H Annaby
J Archer example of signature 1970s-
Annette Arnold [ O ] [b 1953] example of signature 1966- [larger backstamp]
Arnott. example of signature
L Atkins 1960s-
Reginald Harry Austin [b 1890] ca.1920-1955	known to have painted Australiana
Walter Harry Austin [1891-1971] ca.1920-1930	known to have painted Australiana
Harry (Timothy) Ayrton [b 1905] 1920-1970 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit

Arthur Badham [ A Bad. ] [b 1935] example of full signature example of short signature 1951-
William (Bill) Bagnall 1918-1930s - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit
Fiona Bakewell [ F Bwell ] [b 1956] example of full signature example of short signature - maiden name Fiona Round 1973- - in July 2009 I read on eBay that Fiona is still painting
Gerald Banks example of signature 1950-
Ernest Barker [b 1890] 1920s-1956 - also painted under the name of B A Kerr
David Barrett	--
William (Bill) Bee 1918-1930s - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	known to have painted fruit
Maude Bell 1904-1931
Anthea Bills [ AB ] example of signature example of signature 1970-
M Bills example of signature 1950s-
F Bizl	--
Kitty Blake [b 1920] example of signature example of signature 1941-1951
Tony Blakemore 1970-	--
T Blem	--
I or J Bon. example of signature example of signature 1950s-
C Bootle example of signature 1970s-
P Born example of signature 1950s-
P Bough	--
Edith Bradley [ C Brad ] example of signature
R Bridle example of signature 1960s- - this artist's thimbles don't have any gold trims
Merry Brooke [b 1908] 1927-ca.1950	--
P Brooks example of signature 1960s-
E Brown 1970s- example of signature
Fanny Brown 1875-	--
Bulli (?) example of signature this is a strange one!! - Look at the RW backstamp carefully the owner can see that the backstamp is under the glaze but the Royal Worcester name is missing!! have you seen anything like this before?
Carolyn Bullock [ C Bull ] - married name Carolyn Hammond 1968-1970
E Burkin	--
R Bury example of signature 1970s-
A Buss	--

Christine Cameron [b 1951] example of signature February 1975-November 1978 - Christine worked in the gilding department from 1967 to 1971, where one of her jobs was gilding thimbles
S Carn	--
A J Chesterton example of signature 1970s-
Wendy Clarke - founder of Hurley Porcelain in New York under her name Wendy Bowen 1976-1981	--
Cole
V Colin example of signature 1950s-1960s
Janet Collins [b 1957] example of signature 1970s-
K Compt. example of signature
M Cotton example of signature
K Coty example of signature
Bryan Cox example of signature 1950s-
Clair Cox [b 1958] example of signature example of signature 1975-1977 BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
Nigel Creed 1963	--
Charlie Creese 1925-1938
D Cy

Alina Dajda [b 1953] example of signature 1975-1977
J Daper example of signature 1960s-
T Davies example of signature 1960s-
A Davis example of signature 1950s-
C Davis example of signature 1950s-
L Davis 1959	known to have painted fruit
V Day example of signature 1970s-
T Dear	--
Gerald Delaney [b 1933] 1948-1954 and 1971-1973	known to have painted fruit
Dorothy Doughty
D Duggan example of signature 1960s-
Pamela (Pat) Dunkley [b 1945] example of signature 1973-1981 - one of the last four painters BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
Sheila Dutfield [ S D/field ] [b1958] example of full signature example of short signature 1975-

J Egusquiza example of signature 1960s-
Christine Erdman [ E ] [b 1950] example of signature 1965-
Yvonne Evans example of signature 1960s-
J Ewan example of signature 1950s-

A Faid example of signature 1970s -
C Farmer example of signature 1950s-
S Field	--
J Flet example of signature
Flohn example of signature
A Footman example of signature 1960s-
D Fratt or D Pratt example of signature 1960s-
John Fuller [b 1940] 1955-

A Gall' [ AG ] example of signature 1970s-
Giorann Garcia example of signature example of signature - married name Giorann Henshaw 1970s-
J Gart. example of signature 1970s-
S Gegg
M Gibson example of signature 1970s-
Gierdman	known to have painted fruit
Ron Godfrey example of signature 1932-1939
P Gough ca.1960
B Gram	--
Freda Griffiths [b 1931] 1946-1971 - forewoman of lady paintresses	known to have painted flowers
Lybbe Griffiths [ L Griff ] example of signature -1976
C Gull	--

P or R Hall. example of signature
M or N Halls example of signature 1950s-
Carolyn Hammond - maiden name Carolyn Bullock	--
P Hardy example of signature 1970s-
Wyn Harris [ Z ] or [ 7 ] [b 1933] -1956 and 1967-	--
M Hatch example of signature
D Hatchett example of signature
H J Hemming 1960s-
Giorann Henshaw example of signature - maiden name Giorann Garcia - left in 1980
F Herd
Frank Higgins [b 1940] 1957-1972	known to have painted fruit
B Hill 1954-
K H Hill
M Hillet	--
A Hinitt example of signature 1960s-
J Hodge [ J Hodg ] example of signature
J Hogg	--
A Holian example of signature 1960s-
E Holloway	--
G Holloway example of signature
Melvyn Holloway [b 1940] example of signature 1955-1971
R Homer example of signature 1970s-
Carole Hughes [ C Hugh ] [b 1948] example of signature 1960s-
N H Hull 1960s-
Kevin Hunt [b 1955] 1971-	--
Mildred (Millie) Hunt - married name Mildred (Millie) Johns - painted between the two world wars
John Hussell example of signature 1950s

Mary Igoe [b 1956] example of signature 1971- BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
Susan Innis example of signature 1977-

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S James example of signature 1970s-
J Jeynes example of signature
Mildred (Millie) Johns - maiden name Mildred (Millie) Hunt - painted between the two world wars
George B Johnson [b 1859] 1875-1931	known as a bird specialist
Yvonne Jones example of signature 1960s-

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Karen. --- example of signature 1970s- - does anyone know her other name?
Keever	known to have painted birds
M Ker	known to have painted birds
Doreen Knott -1962

R Land example of signature 1970s-
Jean Lawrence [ JL ] example of signature 1970-
Angela Lawson [b 1950] example of signature 1975-
Arthur C (Ocker) Lewis [b 1880] -1930	known to have painted birds / flowers especially irises
Richard (Ricky) Lewis	--
Helene Ligthert [b 1957] example of signature September 1974-1978 - after 1974 she moved to the gilding department where she worked until 1980
Christine Lloyd - married name Christine Steadman 1964
Thomas (Tom) Greville Lockyer 1913-1935	known as a fruit specialist
Tom Longford [ TL'ford ] example of signature
C Lot	--
Peter Love ca.1950-1956	known to have painted fruit
D Lowe 1950s-
S L'Wood example of signature 1970s- - is this Lightwood or Leatherwood or ?

H Manton [ H Man ] example of full signature example of short signature 1950s-1960s
Pauline Margetts [ P Mar ] example of signature - maiden name Pauline Shephard [b 1951] 1970s-
J L Marks example of signature
Carola Maslyn [ C Lyn ] example of signature 1960s- [larger backstamp]
Douglas Massey [ D Masy ] example of signature 1951
Mona McHarg 1960s-	--
P Melley	--
Sandra Meredith example of signature 1960s-
Michelin (Micky) Miller example of signature 1944-1955 - apprentice to Kitty Blake
Marie Milward -1971
Pauline Molloy example of signature 1970s-
Gillian Moody [ M ] [b 1944-] example of signature 1970s-
S Morgan example of signature 1960s-
M Morris [b 1957] example of signature 1975-
S Morris example of signature 1970s-
George Mosley [ Moseley ] 1919-1939 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)
Mandy Munslow example of signature 1970s-

J Nady example of signature
D Natchett. example of signature
J Nell example of signature
William Nicholls [b 1933] example of signature 1950-1972
I Nodge	--
S Norris - see S Morris
P Norton
Allan Norwood example of signature ca.1948-1955
Terry Nutt 1980s	--

P Oakley	--
Judy Oram [b 1946] example of signature 1971-
Judy Owen example of signature 1962-1978 BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more

Charles Palmere 1867-1880	known to have painted birds
Christine Parker [ C Park ] [b 1953] example of full signature example of short signature 1971-1983 - one of the last four thimble painters
T Parr example of signature 1970s-
Payne example of signature - was this Graham Payne?
J Pearce example of signature 1960s-
Diane Perry [b 1947] example of signature 1962- [larger backstamp]
Ernest John Phillips 1890-1932	known as a fine flower painter
M Phips example of signature 1955-
Peter Platt [b 1935] example of signature 1951- - nickname 'Sam' or 'Abdul' was sometimes signed on his thimbles as a joke by apprentices - in 1980s the London Thimble Society commissioned thimbles painted by this artist
M J Pledger - I have seen this painter on thimbles issued by TCC [Renaissance and Oakley]	known to have painted birds
R Poole example of signature 1950s-
L Port example of signature
H Pounds 1970
A Powell [ A Pow. ] example of signature 1960s-
J Powell example of signature 1960s-
Michael Powell [b 1945] 1966-	--
William Seaborn Powell [ Willy Powell ] [b 1878] example of signature 1900-1950 - hunchback and dwarf - this is what Billy Powell looked like
D Pratt - see D Fratt
Linda Preece [ Preece ] example of signature example of signature - married name Linda Wilson 1960s-
Horace Price [b1898] 1912-1965	known to have painted fruit / flowers

C Radburn example of signature 1970s-
D Rankin example of signature 1970s-
P Ranler
J Rayner [ J Ray ] example of signature 1970s-
Daisy Rea [ DR ] [b 1894] example of signature 1909-1980 - forewoman of lady paintresses
Pat Rigby [ 9 ] 1951-
J Right	known to have painted flowers
Susanne Roberts [ S Rob. ] [ Sue Roberts ] [b1955] example of short signature example of full signature - maiden name Susanne Waldron 1967-1980s - one of the last two painters in the 1980s
Joan Ross example of signature 1965-
M Rouge 1950s-
Fiona Round example of signature - married name Fiona Bakewell 1973- BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
C Row. example of signature -- what is the full name?
P Roze example of signature 1950s-
S Rutter	--

Salter example of signature 1970s-
' Sam ' - Peter Platt's nickname
S Sands example of signature
Eveline Sedgley [b 1909] - pseudonym ' Willis ' used when ladies not allowed to sign their own name example of signature 1924-1971
S Selby example of signature 1960s-
Filippa Serra example of signature 1970s-
Pauline Shephard [ P Sheph ] example of signature - married name Pauline Margetts 1967-
James Sheriff
S Shinnie example of signature 1960s-
Albert Shuard example of signature -1961
Christopher Smith	--
F Smith example of signature 1950s-
Lorraine Smith [ LS ] [b 1942] example of signature 1950s-
John Smyth example of signature 1950-1971
Dorothy Sparks [ Sparkes ] [b 1935] example of signature 1951-1980s - one of the last two painters
Ethel Spilsbury 1910-1947/8	known to have painted flowers
Jack Stanley [b 1905] 1919-1933 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	--
Christine Steadman 1965-1966 - maiden name Christine Lloyd	--
Fay Stephens [ FS ] 1949-	--
Stinton example of signature 1941 - could be any one of eight members of this family who painted for Royal Worcester
K Stott example of signature 1970s
Frederick N Sutton ca.1880	--
M Sutton example of signature 1960s- [larger backstamp]

J Tak	--
Gertie Taunt 1910-	--
Angela Taylor 1960s-	--
L Taylor example of signature 1950s-
Edward (Ted) Townsend [b1904] example of signature 1918-1942 and 1947-1971 - foreman of men painters - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)
Charles Twilton 1918-1930 - one of the "Terrible Seven" (seven "rather boisterous" apprentices)	--
Miss Twinberrow [ Twin ] 1915-1921	known to have painted roses

Julia Vass [ J Vaas ] [b 1954] example of signature 1971-
Judy Vickers [ V ] [b 1946] 1965-	--

Beverley Waldo 1977-	--
Rosemary Waldron [ R ] [b 1951] example of signature 1967- - sister Susanne
Susanne Waldron [b 1955] example of signature - married name Susanne Roberts 1971- - sister Rosemary BUY THE HIGHLIGHTED THIMBLE click on the photo to find out more
B Walter example of signature 1970s-
J Ward example of signature 1960s- [larger backstamp]
V Ward example of signature 1950s-
F B Well see Fiona Bakewell
Suzanne Whitcombe - paints now for Dunheved	--
S White	--
Christopher Whitford [b 1952] example of signature 1971-
D Wild example of signature 1950s-
S Wiley example of signature 1960s-
Helen Williams [b 1949] example of signature 1975-
' Willis ' - pseudonym used by Eveline Sedgely
M Wills example of signature
Derek Wilson example of signature 1930-1954 - paints now for Dunheved
Linda Wilson example of signature - maiden name Linda Preece 1970s-
M Wilson example of signature 1950s-
E Wimperis
C Wood example of signature 1960s-
T Wood	known to have painted birds
Y Wood example of signature 1960s- [larger backstamp]
M Woodings example of signature 1960s-

Last updated 3 May 2012