Ida Rentoul Outhwaite ( 1888-1960)

Ida was born into a gifted literary and artistic family drew prolifically from childhood. Her illustrations were first published in 1903 in New Idea. Following her marriage she published little for ten years. In 1916 she brought out her first coloured work, Elves and Fairies, a deluxe edition produced entirely in Australia by Thomas Lothian. The series was a great success and journalists who interviewed the now famous illustrator were charmed to find her small and whimsical like her creations.

Ida went on to become increasingly well known in England, France and America.

Her illustrations are her enduring legacy of her love of the Australian bush.