Peter Rabbit, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, Jemima Puddle-Duck… the adventures of these charming animal characters have enthralled generations of children for more than 100 years. And as well as being a gifted artist and storyteller, Beatrix Potter was a scientist, farmer and environmentalist, whose achievements in conservation have had a lasting effect to the present day.
Early life
Helen Beatrix Potter was born in 1866 in London. Educated by governesses, she turned the schoolroom of her Kensington home into a menagerie filled with rabbits, hedgehogs, frogs, lizards and mice. With an insatiable curiosity, she made detailed sketches of these creatures, as well as plant life and insects. She even dispatched her brother Bertram’s long-eared bat with chloroform so she could stuff it and take careful measurements.
An inquiring mind
As a young adult, Beatrix sold some of her artwork to publishers, including drawings of her pet rabbit Benjamin Bunny. However, she devoted most of her time to the study of subjects such as geology, entomology (insects) and, in particular, mycology (fungi). Her stunning watercolour paintings of mushrooms and toadstools are testament to her supreme skill as a scientific illustrator.
Success
Esta historia es de la edición February 22, 2022 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 22, 2022 de WOMAN'S WEEKLY.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Patchwork PROJECTS
Easy ideas to show off English paper-piecing techniques
Night train to BERLIN
Germany's exciting and varied capital is now reachable by train from the UK
French FANCY
Raymond Blanc's right-hand man, Benoit Blin's favourite bakes
Are you missing out on BENEFITS?
Here's how to find out what you are eligible for
TRAY bien
All-in-one tray bakes, packed with flavour
We took a grown-up GAP YEAR!
Who says taking time out is just for students?
'I'm obsessed with reality TV!'
THIS WEEK'S COLUMNIST Author and presenter Louise Minchin
What to eat and do for A HEALTHIER GUT
Fix those problems and boost your wellbeing
Picture palaces
In an age of cinema complexes, we celebrate five historic and beautiful picture houses that have stood the test of time
'My diet during Bake Off is cake and alcohol!'
Dame Prue Leith on the popular baking contest