A to Z of artists Holiday, Gilbert 1879 - 1937

Charles Gilbert Joseph Holiday was born in London in January 1879. His mother was a watercolourist and an uncle, Henry Holiday, a well known painter and gifted designer of stained glass. The origin of young Gilbert’s interest in drawing horses is unknown. He was educated at Westminster before attending the Royal Academy Schools. By 1900, his first black and white sketches were being accepted by The Graphic, The Strand, The Tatler and other illustrated magazines. In 1914 he went to France as an unofficial war artist for The Graphic. The following year, claiming he was under 30 when actually 35 years old, he was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery with whom he served with distinction at Arras, Passchendaele and the Third Battle of Ypres. He continued sketching throughout the War producing many atmospheric and moving drawings. After the War he concentrated on sporting subjects: hunting, racing, point-to-points and polo, all painted with a brio which earned him a reputation as bright as his contemporary, Lionel Edwards (q.v.). As well as at the Royal Academy, his work was exhibited at the Royal Scottish Academy, the Pastel Society, the Royal Institution of Painters in Watercolours and elsewhere. A small amount of his work was published. He illustrated a number of books including the Royal Artillery War Commemoration Book. A fall while out hunting with the Woolwich Draghounds in 1932 shortened his life. With considerable courage he continued painting but from a wheelchair. After a bout of pneumonia he died on 8 January 1937, a few days before his fifty-eighth birthday.