Harry George Theaker [also known as H.G. Theaker, and as Harry G. Theaker] was born in Wolstanton, Staffordshire, England, in 1873 and was the son of George Theaker (1835-1902), who was an artist and headmaster of Burslem School of Art in Burslem, Staffordshire, and designed a large vase for Doulton Burslem which was exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.

Between 1893 and 1900 H.G. Theaker was employed as an apprentice and painter by Doulton Burslem. He also attended Burslem School of Art. He then moved to London and studied at the Royal College of Art where he was awarded a gold medal for design and a travelling scholarship enabling him to further his studies in Italy for a period.

Following his return to England he embarked on a career as a painter, illustrator, stained glass artist and wallpaper designer. Three mural decorations designed by Theaker for Campbell & Christmas are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1906 (pp. 122, 123). He illustrated numerous books for children, the first being 'The Ingoldsby Legends' by Thomas Ingoldsby (London: Macmillan, 1911). The colour plates he produced for an edition of 'Grimm's Fairy Tales (London: Ward Lock, 1920) are considered to be among his best work as an illustrator.

Theaker was a frequent exhibitor at the Royal Society of British Artists from 1920 to 1954. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy in London from 1909 to 1928 and Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours in London; and at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in 1920 and a member of the Art Workers Guild in 1921.

From c.1906 he taught modelling at the Polytechnic School of Art, Regent Street and was Principal at the School from 1931 to 1938.

Theaker lived at 1 Blenheim Road, Bedford Park, London, for most of his working life. He died in London on 23 January 1954.

_{Text source: Art History Research net (AHR net)}