Biography

Robert Hawcridge (c.1866 – 7 Dec 1919)

Robert Hawcridge was the son of an engineer who was educated in Bradford, England, training as a commercial artist and working for Alfred Cooke & Sons in Leeds, for whom he was to become the main showcard designer.

He came to Dunedin in the late 1880s following Jeannette Haigh, who he was shortly to marry. He was then employed by the NZ Tablet and Printing Co., soon transferring to J. Wilkie & Co. Ltd. During the 1889 – 90 New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition he illustrated a number of brochures relating to the visit of the Irish delegation. He also illustrated other works, for example Edith Howe’s Maoriland Fairy Tales, 1906, as well as providing illustrations for the literary magazines, Triad and Red Funnel. He was also a painter, as can be seen by his painting, Dunedin, New Zealand, panorama of city and harbour, which was to be turned into a lithograph. He joined the Art Society shortly after he had established himself professionally and was to remain a member until his death.

After 20 years of working for Wilkie & Co Hawcridge became the principal of the Dunedin School of Art. The number of students decreased drastically due to World War One and at the time of Hawcridge’s death the future of the school was uncertain. He was survived by his wife and three children.