Vernon Hill (1887–1972), born in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, was a sculptor, lithographer, illustrator and draughtsman.
He began his work in print-making and lithography, and branched out into other artistic forms, such as sculpture. He illustrated several works and created etchings. His more notable works were commissions from Sir Edward Maufe for interior and exterior architectural sculptures on Maufe's buildings, including Guildford Cathedral, the Runnymede Memorial and several churches.
He died in 1972.
Early life Vernon Hill was born in 1887 in Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire. He began formal training in print-making at an early age; at the age 13 he was apprenticed to a lithographer. In about 1908, at the age of 21, Hill moved to London and took up poster illustration, working under John Hassall, a poster designer and illustrator.
From 1909 to 1914 Hill received commissions for work as an illustrator on various projects. He created Art Nouveau illustrations for an Arcadian Calendar for 1910 in 1909, Stephen Phillips' The New Inferno in 1911 and for Richard Pearse Chope's Ballads Weird and Wonderful the following year. In 1912 one of his works was exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts. His etchings were described by Campbell Fine Art as follows: The distinctive allegorical etchings of Vernon Hill are all now scarce. His highly evocative work appears to have evolved entirely independently from the trends of his time, although overtones of the mysticism which so influenced Frederick Carter and Austin Osman Spare can be traced in some of his works.Vernon Hill: Biography. Campbell Fine Art. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
Chope commissioned Hill to create a series of designs for roof bosses at St Nectan's Church, Hartland in about 1912. The bosses are in three sets: two sets are of plants and trees, of which the first letter of each spell out the names of Chope's brothers (Dennis and Abbot). The third set are of biblical figures. Hill is thought to have sculpted these bosses, although some indicate they were created by Reads of Exeter.Hobbs; Question of a Seat. Pub. 2005 on the seating and artefacts within St Nectans church
Notable commissions His most notable work as a sculptor is to be seen on various buildings by Sir Edward Maufe, who regularly commissioned Hill.
Guildford Cathedral Some of Hill's finest work can be seen at Guildford Cathedral in Guildford, Surrey, which was designed in 1932-33. Apart from the reliefs on the south door entrance, he carved the angels on the sedilia inside the cathedral, as well as the tongues of flame on the pulpit and lectern. He also carved the arms of Bishop Greig over the inside of the sacristy door and the figure of Saint Ursula over the inside of St Ursula's Porch.Exterior Guide Guildford Cathedral.. Retrieved 16 August 2012Cathedral Church of the Holy Spirit, Guildford. British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
At the east door of the south porch, on either side of the central buttress pier in the south transept, are two magnificent bronze doors, set under two arches, which feature Hill's reliefs.Guildford Cathedral, east door of south porch, Elemental Male Occupations Ploughman. Work of Vernon Hill. Exploring Surrey's Past. Archive record Reference Number: PC 00072 ALB00300149. Retrieved 24 August 2012. These are depictions of various occupations, of both men and women. The men's occupations are on the right-hand door and include sowing, woodcutting, fishing, hunting, shepherding and ploughing; on the left-hand door are depicted women's traditional occupations including milking, spinning, and teaching.
Runnymede Memorial
Hill sculpted the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede, designed by Edward Maufe.Runnymede Memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 23 August 2012. Overlooking the Thames Valley, the memorial commemorates the more than 20,000 Royal Air Force servicemen and -women who died during World War II and have no known graves. The panels of inscriptions bear their names.207 Squadron Royal Air Force Association, The Air Forces Memorial, Coopers Hill, Runnymede. 207 Squadron (Royal Air Force) Association. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
Among Hill's works are the architectural sculptures of Courage, Victory and Justice, which adorn the entry to the shrine on the north side of the triple arched portico by the cloisters. The Air Forces Memorial, Runnymede. Commonwealth War Graves Commission. p. 4. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
St Columba's Church, London Maufe was the architect for the re-building of St Columba's Church, Pont Street, London, which had been destroyed in 1941 during World War II. Hill provided interior and exterior stone sculptures for the construction between 1950 and 1955. Maufe described the finished work as "of an especial beauty."02 20-39 Chelsea Old Town Hall to Knightsbridge. Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. p. 19. (item #39) Retrieved 24 August 2012.
St John's College, Cambridge Also commissioned by Maufe, Hill completed an architectural sculpture of the arms of St John's College, Cambridge, for the north side of North Court.Pevsner, Nikolaus. (1970). Cambridgeshire, Second edition. Pevsner Architectural Guides. Buildings of England. Yale University Press. . pp. 154-155.
Church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell Hill sculpted several works from Weldon stone for Maufe's church of St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell. These included a sculpture of a dove over the north door and one of two birds eating a unch of grapes, depicting the Eucharist, over the west door. He also carved a Virgin and Child and a font. The font includes symbols for Christ, such as the ΙΧΘΥΣ cypher and an image of a fish. He also made a sculpture of Saint Christopher.Cherry, Bridget and Nikolaus Pevsner. (1991). London 3: North West. Yale University Press. p. 184. Retrieved 23 August 2012.Our Building St Thomas the Apostle, Hanwell. Retrieved 24 August 2012.St Thomas the Apostle. London Open House. Open-City the architecture education organisation. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
Works WorkYearType of workNotes and References A girl decked with leaves 1905–1930 Etching The etching shows the head of a woman with leaves in her hair. It is printed with plate-tone in brown ink on speckled buff paper.A girl decked with leaves The British Museum. Retrieved 24 August 2012. Air Maidens 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The wooden figure group was exhibited at Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill (Leicester Galleries) in 1927.Air Maidens. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2012. Back of Hand-mirror 1927 (exhibited) Sculpture The bronze cast sculpture was exhibited at Leicester Galleries for the "Sculpture, Drawings and Etchings by Vernon Hill" exhibit.Back of Hand-mirror. Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2012. Ballads Weird and Wonderful 1912 Illustrations Hill illustrated a book of ancient legendary ballads by Richard Pearse Chope.The International studio, Volume 48. John Lane Company, 1913. p. 346.https://archive.org/details/balladsweirdwond00choprich/page/n31/mode/2up For example, see "Young Benjie" (Roud 3911; Child 86)