Frances Mabel Hollams was an animal painter who specialized in canine and equestrian portraits. She studied at the Frank Calderon School of Animal Painting in South Kensington, and at the Atelier Julian in Paris, the contemporary ‘mecca’ for animal painters.
One of Hollams’ trademarks was to paint the dog or horse on board, sometimes varnished, with the grain of the wood showing through, and invariably with no background and the animal’s name inscribed on the board.
In 1899, Hollams was elected an associate of the Society of Women Artists and by 1902 her qualities had been quickly recognized and she made a full member. She exhibited extensively including at the Royal Academy, the Society of Women Artists, and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. In June 1929 she had “A Loan Exhibition of Oil Paintings of Horse and Dogs”, of 66 paintings, at the New Bond Street Walker’s Galleries. It was a remarkable tribute, with 54 paintings being kindly lent by many titled and wealthy owners of show champions, pets and famous kennels. In 1937, the New Bond Street dealers Arthur Ackermann & Son paid tribute to Hollams again with 38 paintings “A Loan Exhibition of Oil Paintings of Horses and Dogs”.
Hollams’ patrons included the Earls of Sefton, Beatty, and Cornwallis. Lord Cornwallis was the Master of the Linton Beagles, and she painted him with his beagles. She also painted for the royals, one of her last oils, executed in 1963, was of Princess Alexandra Duchess of Kent with a young friend on horseback.