Author and artist. Born Mary Caldwell. She studied art and became a children's book illustrator. Her husband Herbert Tourtel, was news editor of the Daily Express. In 1920 the newspaper was looking to produce a comic strip as competition for those in other daily papers. Tourtel suggested his wife, and Rupert Bear was born. In later years, after her eyesight started fading, the illustrations were taken over by Alfred Bestall.
There are two other plaques for her in Canterbury.
Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk
