Caroline Paterson Biography

Caroline Toulmin Paterson (1856-1911), also known as Mrs. Caroline Sharpe, was a Victorian watercolourist and illustrator famous for her domestic landscapes and idyllic scenes of rural England, often featuring children. She had a successful career as a children’s illustrator, continuing her work and exhibitions until 1904, even after marrying in 1892.

Born in Altrincham, Cheshire, she was the daughter of Dr. Alexander Henry Paterson and Mary Chance Paterson (née Herford) and a sister to artist Helen Allingham. Coming from an artistic family, her aunt Laura Herford was an early champion of women in the arts, influencing both Caroline and Helen.

After her father died in 1862, the family moved to Birmingham. Although little is known about her formal education, Caroline's style resembles her sister's, who studied at established art schools. In 1883, both sisters petitioned the Royal Academy for women to attend life drawing classes, which highlighted the challenges faced by women artists at the time. Paterson’s works often depicted the tenderness and innocence of childhood.

Throughout the 1880s, she illustrated children’s books and Christmas cards, gaining acclaim for her illustrations of classics like Snow White and Cinderella. In 1886, her illustrations for Three Fairy Princesses gained significant popularity, leading to further commissions.

By the 1891 census, she was living in Gayton Crescent, Hampstead with her mother. In 1892, she married Sutton Sharpe and moved to a nearby home at 42 Willow Road. While it is often thought her career ended with marriage, she continued creating art, as shown by works attributed to “C. Sharpe.” 

In 1911, Paterson returned to Gayton Crescent and was listed as a “Painter Artist” in the census, indicating she continued her work. She passed away in Hampstead that same year at 55, survived by her family.

Despite her contributions, there remains a lack of research on Victorian female artists like Caroline Paterson.