Madge Gill (London 1884-1961)

Madge Gill led a troubled life, finding art at a late age and never sharing it with the world and as such, is therefore considered one of the leading exponents of Outsider art. An illegitimate child she had a difficult childhood, was sent to Dr. Barnardo's orphanage and subsequently sent on a child-labour scheme to Ontario, Canada as a House Servant. At the age of 18 she managed to return to East London, marrying her cousin Tom Gill in 1907. In a turbulent relationship they had three sons together, one of whom died of influenza in 1918 and tragically a year later their long hoped for daughter was still-born. By the 1920's and '30's, having been introduced to Spiritualism and mediumistic practices by her aunt, Gill began to enter trance like states during séances at her home and, whilst possessed by her spirit, Myrninerest, would draw fervently.