Richard Simkin

Richard Simkin (November 5, 1850 – June 25, 1926) was a British artist and illustrator of military uniforms.

Biography

Born in Herne Bay, Kent, on 5 November 1850, the son of a commercial traveller, also named Richard.^[1] He spent much of his time in Aldershot, Hampshire, after marrying his wife, Harriet in 1880, and was also a volunteer in the Artists Rifles. He was employed by the War Office to design recruiting posters, and to illustrate the Army and Navy Gazette. In 1901 he created a series of 'Types of the Indian Army' for the Gazette;^[2] he obtained much of the information from the Colonial and India Exhibition of 1886. During his lifetime, he, along with Orlando Norie produced thousands of watercolours depicting the uniforms and campaigns of the British Army. Simkin also contributed illustrations to numerous publications including the Boy's Own Magazine, The Graphic and others; many were published by Raphael Tuck and sons.

He died at his home at 7 Cavendish Street, Herne Bay on 25 June 1926, survived by his wife and two daughters. Today, his pictures can be seen in numerous regimental museums and his illustrations appear in regimental histories, while watercolours frequently come up for auction.

Publications

The War in Egypt. London: George Routledge, 1883
Our Soldiers and Sailors in Egypt. London: George Routledge, 1885
Uniforms of the British Army, in Twelve Representative Plates. London: Halford Bros, 1886
Military Types. London: George Berridge, 1888–1902
Life in the Army. London: Chapman & Hall, 1889
A Book of Soldiers. London: Perry., c. 1890
Following the Drum. London: William Allen, c. 1890
Where Glory Calls. The Soldier's Scrap Book. London: William Allen, c. 1890
The Royal Military Tournament. London: Frederick Warne, c. 1890
The Boy's Books of British Battles from 1704 to 1882. London: George Routledge, c. 1890
Our Armies. London: Sampson Low, Marston, 1891
British Soldiers Past and Present: Their Dress and Equipment from 1600 to Date. London: Frederick Warne, c. 1894
Armed Europe. London: Raphael Tuck, c. 1895
The Army. London: George Routledge, c. 1900
The Great Powers of the World. London: Dean, c. 1900
Soldiers of the Queen. London: Thomas Nelson, c. 1900
Soldiers of the Century. London: Dean, 1901
Sailors of the Century. London: Dean, 1901

Gallery

The Connaught Rangers
The King's Regiment
Imperial Yeomanry

References

^ The best biographical information on the artist is Carman, William Y. (1982). Richard Simkin's Uniforms of the British Army: The Cavalry Regiments. Exeter: Webb & Bower, pp. 9-13
^ Arnold Wilson (1972). A Dictionary of British Military Painters. Leigh-on-Sea: F. Lewis

External links

Works by or about Richard Simkin at the Internet Archive
Anne S. K. Brown Military Collection, Brown University Library over 350 original water-colours by Simkin

[1] The best biographical information on the artist is Carman, William Y. (1982). Richard Simkin's Uniforms of the British Army: The Cavalry Regiments. Exeter: Webb & Bower, pp. 9-13

[2] Arnold Wilson (1972). A Dictionary of British Military Painters. Leigh-on-Sea: F. Lewis

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