Outhwaite, Ida Rentoul, 1888-1960.

Fairyland of Ida Rentoul Outhwaite. Verses by Annie R. Rentoul and stories by Grenbry Outhwaite and Annie R. Rentoul. (London : A. & C. Black, 1931)

Born in Melbourne in 1888, Ida Rentoul Outhwaite was the leading illustrator of the fairy tale genre during the first part of the twentieth century. She had an international reputation and exhibited in Paris and London as well as in Australia. Ida was said to have been able to draw birds before the age of two and used to draw in the margins of her books as a child. She started her career at the age of 15 illustrating a fairy story by her sister, Annie R. Rentoul, in New Idea.

While fairies were of popular interest, Ida depicted them alongside Australian animals like kangaroos, kookaburras, and koalas. Ida displayed her work at the Women’s Exhibition in Melbourne in 1907. The event was the first to celebrate women’s achievements in Australia.

In 1909, she married businessman, Grenbry Outhwaite and, as she had done with her sister and her mother, she would draw him in as a collaborator on a number of books, including Fairyland and The little fairy sister (item 126 below). Grenbry strongly promoted her work and was instrumental in sealing her global fame. Domestic help further relieved her of most household and childcare responsibilities (she had four children). In an interview with Woman’s World, she noted the difficulties of balancing family and work: “One’s work must suffer. How can one remain really inspired when ‘leg-of-mutton’ matters constantly intervene?”

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