Winifred Austen (British, 1876-1964) A collection of ornithological studies many inscribed with name of bird in the margin watercolour and bodycolour 12 x 16.2cm (4 3/4 x 6 3/8in). (15) all mounted but unframed Footnotes: Throughout her lifetime Winifred Maria Louise Austen had a very successful career as a painter, etcher, engraver, and book illustrator. The naturalist Sir Peter Scott described her as 'the best bird-etcher of this century.' Her meticulous attention to detail when painting animals and birds gained her membership to the Society of Women Artists in 1902, the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers in 1907, and latterly in 1933 to the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. Between 1899 and 1961 Austen exhibited over seventy images at the Royal Academy. Her love for birds extended to her personal life evidenced by her involvement with the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and the Havergate Island Bird Sanctuary in Suffolk. It has been suggested that these watercolours are designs for a series of cigarette cards which were not printed. This lot is subject to the following lot symbols: AR AR Goods subject to Artists Resale Right Additional Premium. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com