11 Facts About Phyllis Barron

Mabel Phyllis Barron was an English designer, known for her textile printing workshop with Dorothy Larcher.

Phyllis Barron later described her father as 'something in the City' and considered her family to be rich.

Phyllis Barron encountered block printing in her mid teens while on a sketching holiday in Normandy, when the tutor gave her some old printing blocks to experiment with.

Phyllis Barron attended the Slade School of Fine Art, where she studied fine art under Henry Tonks, but continued her independent efforts to experiment with printing and to learn about dyeing techniques.

Phyllis Barron was particularly interested in traditional Indian block printing techniques and rural French designs.

In 1917, Phyllis Barron had her first exhibition and subsequently showed her work at several exhibitions at the Brook Street Gallery together with weaving from Ethel Mairet's workshop.

Phyllis Barron exhibited pieces at the Omega Workshops but never became further involved in running the business.

Later in life, Phyllis Barron taught art teachers at Dartington Hall, visited classes at Stroud School of Art, and worked with several young artists interested in printing.

Phyllis Barron became active in local government, and served for a time as chair of the Painswick Parish Council, and a member of the Stroud rural district council.

Phyllis Barron lived and worked with her partner Dorothy Larcher for almost thirty years, until Larcher's death in 1952.

Phyllis Barron left her collections of printing blocks and samples to her friend, artist Robin Tanner.