Phil May

Philip William May, born in Leeds, had to leave school to support himself at an early age after his father died when he was nine. He worked at Leeds Grand Theatre as a scene painter, bit-part actor and poster designer. At seventeen he moved to London and became an illustrator for the St Stephen’s Review; he was spotted by a talent scout and, in 1885, signed to The Sydney Bulletin. Returning to England in ‘88, he made his name with the Parson and Painter comic strip. He died of psoriasis of the liver and tuberculosis at the age of 39.

Books illustrated include: Guttersnipes, Phil May’s ABC, Phil May Annual (1892-1904), as well as contributions to The Graphic and Punch.

Examples of Sold Work

Notes by a Globe Trotter at Hyères