Eileen Soper

Eileen Soper (1905-1990) is regarded as one of the leading children's illustrators of the 1940s and 1950s. Daughter of renowned artist, George Soper, her artistic prowess showed from an early age, and at fifteen years old she became the youngest person to have artwork exhibited at the Royal Academy. Over the course of her long career, she illustrated many books - most notably Enid Blyton's Famous Five series - created hundreds of pieces of art, and wrote children's picture books, poetry and nature books. After her death, her house, Wildings, was cleared, revealing a treasure trove of hundreds of paintings and illustrations, as well as families of mice and birds who had made their homes in the rooms of the house.

Joy Baker is co-founder of The Soper Collection, set up to preserve the artwork and legacy of the Soper family. Joy taught in New Zealand, before returning to England with her late husband, John, the other co-founder, to run their own antique shop and art gallery. The large collection of artwork comprising The Soper Collection, amassed over a period of thirty years, is now housed at Pannett Art Gallery in Whitby where it is available for all to enjoy.