William George Simmonds (1876–1968) was a 20th-century draftsman, artist, craftsman, and — together with his wifeEve Simmonds, a musician and embroiderer — proprietor of a touring puppet theatre, who lived inGloucestershire and who was part of theArts and Crafts movement.
Born in 1876, Simmonds studied at theRoyal College of Art and went on to exhibit at theRoyal Academy from 1903 onwards.[1]His wife Eve, born in 1884 inWalthamstow asEve Peart, studied art atThe Slade, and they married in 1912.[2]DuringWorld War One, William was a designer, of both tanks and (withGeoffrey de Havilland) aircraft.[1][2]
After living for a time inFovant, and then London, they moved toFar Oakridge in 1919, where together they ran a puppet theatre.[1][2]The interest in puppets originated in Fovant, where William attending the bedside of his sick father began to carve puppets.[2]They were later, in the 1920s and 1930s, to take the theatre on tour, performing at various venues around the country including theGrafton Theatre for three weeks per year.[2]
In Oakridge, Eve became anembroiderer and William participated in a local theatre group, the Oakridge Players.[2]William also pursued his interest in carving, in both wood and ivory, which he had first taken during the war, habitually carrying around a piece of wood or ivory in his pocket to carve.[2]On tour with the puppet theatre, William was, as with the local theatre group, a playwright and set designer, whilst Eve supplied the musical accompaniment on thespinet and was thecostumer (both designing and making).[2]William also carved the puppets.[2]
In the year of William's death, 1968, the Cheltenham Art Gallery held an exhibition of his work, which included carvings, sculptures, paintings, drawings, and book designs.[1]At that point, he was the oldest member of the Guild of Gloucestershire Craftsmen.[1]Eve died two years later in 1970.[2]
Works by William Simmonds can be found in various places.
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