Phil May (1864-1903), Cartoonist and silhouette artist
Philip William ('Phil') May
Later Victorian Portraits Catalogue
Sitter in 14 portraits
Artist of 20 portraits
Philip William May was a caricaturist. He was born near Leeds and was the son of an engineer who died when May was nine years old. May worked in a variety of jobs before moving to London, and shortly afterward to Australia, when he was seventeen. In Australia he found work with the Sydney Bulletin, and in just three years produced over 800 drawings for the Bulletin. On his return to London in 1892 May drew for the St Stephen's Review; his studies of the London guttersnipes and coster-girls rapidly made him famous. He became a regular member of the staff of Punch in 1896, and in his later years his services were retained exclusively for Punch and The Graphic.
by Philip William ('Phil') May
black chalk, late 1890s
NPG 2661
by Philip William ('Phil') May
pen, brush and pencil on paper, 1894
NPG 3038
by Philip William ('Phil') May
silhouette on glass, 1894
NPG 3941
by Percy Frederick Seaton Spence
black chalk, 1895
NPG 1184a
by Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, Bt
pastel, 1898
NPG 1659
by Arthur Pelham Collins
pen and ink, circa 1900-1903
NPG 2751
by Philip William ('Phil') May
pencil, 1901
NPG 4149
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1898
NPG x4228
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1898
NPG x4229
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1898
NPG x4230
by Alexander Bassano
half-plate glass negative, 1898
NPG x4231
by Unknown photographer
matte bromide postcard print, early 1900s
NPG Ax160440
Menu for the 'Kinsmen' includes etching of Phil May and John Bull
by Unknown artist
etching, 1883
NPG D9854
by Unknown artist
screenprint, 1921
NPG D3782
All paintings by this artist on the BBC Your Paintings website
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