Shadow Puppets, 'Dame Wiggens of Lee', First Year Students, 1951
(photo: Bath Academy of Art)

Helen Binyon
1904-1979 (BAA 1949-65)


Born in London; daughter of Laurence Binyon (1869-1943),
poet; Keeper of Prints and Drawings, British Museum. 1922-
26 Royal College of Art Design School, contemporary of Eric
Ravilious whom she came to know well; taught by Paul
Nash. 1928-30 Central School of Arts and Crafts, studied
wood carving and engraving, exhibited engravings with
Bawden and Ravilious, Redfern Gallery.
Illustrated several books including Brief Candles Golden
Cockerel Press and Pride and Prejudice Penguin Illustrated
Classics, .1938. Created Jiminy Puppets with twin sister
Margaret, gave many performances using marionettes. in the
1940s they jointly produced about ten childrens’ books for
Oxford University Press. During the War she drew
hydrographic charts for the Admirality, evacuated to Bath,
where she met Clifford and Rosemary Ellis. 1945/46 taught
Willesden School of Art. 1949 began teaching BAA, initially