Lot 189: Sylvia Cooke-Collis (1900-1973) CROCUS AND IRIS,

Sylvia Cooke-Collis (1900-1973) CROCUS AND IRIS, circa 1937 gouache on board 27 by 20cm., 10.75 by 8in. Born in Glanmire, Co. Cork, and raised at Annes Groves, Castletownroche, Sylvia Cooke-Collis studied at the Crawford Municipal School of Art in Cork. She later took further lessons in Dublin from Mainie Jellett, subsequently recounting her memories of this time in A Tribute to Evie Hone and Mainie Jellett, edited by Stella Frost and published in 1957. The pair became friends and Jellett occasionally visited the younger artist in Cork on painting holidays. Cooke-Collis began exhibiting in 1936 with the Watercolour Society of Ireland, ultimately showing sixty works with the group over the following twenty years. She also exhibited with the more avant-garde artists of the Dublin Painters Society and held at least one solo exhibition at their gallery, in November 1944. Further solo shows ensued at the Grafton Gallery, Dublin (1947, '49 and '52). Cork scenes predominated but she also painted in Kerry and Connemara; circus horses and fishing villages were favoured subjects. She is represented in the Crawford Gallery, Cork, the Ulster Museum, Belfast, and numerous county council collections across Ireland. Lots 189-199 were bequeathed to the present owner by a good friend of the artist's from Co. Cork.