Esmé Eve, A.R.C.A (1920-2001) was a British author & illustrator. At the age of 5, she won a toy cash register in a drawing competition; it was just the start of her artistic career! She studied at Croydon College of Art from 1937-41, followed by the Royal College of Art from 1941-44. She taught at the Royal School of Needlework and various at schools. She lived for many years in Seaford, East Sussex.
I’ve seen her referred to as both Frances Olive Esmé Eve and Florence Olive Esmé Eve. I couldn’t find a great deal about the artist, and only came across one (fairly fuzzy) image of her. She has illustrated many, many children’s books of her own and for other authors, including series of Wonder Starters and Big Golden Books.
On the back flap of a 1965 edition of her Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes is the following author information:
Hobby: sunbathing
Other interests: reading, architecture, the theatre, walking, collecting Victorian earrings, talking to little cats and having a look at somebody else’s country.
Objects for happy contemplation: cats, elephants and the Brighton Pavilion.
Future plans: to illustrate more books, to meet more little cats, to sunbathe.
Prints of her illustrations come up at auction occasionally. Books are currently available on Abe Books, eBay, and Etsy. There are also Christmas cards illustrated with her artwork for sale here.
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