Olive Edis (1876–1955) was the first female war photographer and, against the expectations of her gender during the Edwardian era, achieved a great deal of success. From the fishermen of Norfolk, to the literary elite and members of the Royal Family, she captured portraits of the entire spectrum of British society in the first half of the twentieth century.
Still today, many of her photographs can be viewed in Cromer Museum, which acquired a vast collection of her works from her former assistant Cyril Nunn.
Take a look at five of her startling photographs on Art UK.
Olive Edis Wearing Sou'wester Hat
Olive Edis (1876–1955)
Black & white print
H 15 x W 10 cm
Cromer Museum
Early years
Born on 3rd September 1876, she took up photography at the turn of the century, after being gifted her first camera in 1900 by her cousin Caroline. In 1905 Edis and her younger sister Katharine moved to the Norfolk seaside town of Sheringham, where they set up their first photographic studio together.
Cock Robin
Cromer Lighthouse
Photographic techniques
Over the course of her career, Edis experimented with photographic techniques, becoming a pioneer in the medium. She even patented her own 'diascope' design and developed the Lumiere Brothers' autochrome colour process.
Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll (1848–1939)
Olive Edis (1876–1955)
Black & white print
H 17.5 x W 12 cm
Cromer Museum
Photographing high society
Olive was known for offering a unique glimpse into the personal, inner worlds of her subjects, including members of high society, politicians and the Royal Family.
Cyril Nunn
Her legacy
The last photograph ever taken by Edis was of her close friend and assistant Cyril Nunn in 1953/4. She left her estate to Cyril, including her photographs, prints, glass plate negatives and autocrhomes.
When discussing Olive's fascination for the lives of those living in the rural coastal towns of Norfolk and Suffolk, Cyril said: 'she always said she would be remembered by her pictures of them and not all the portraits of society people.'
Although she is not known as a household photographer today, Olive's legacy is coming back into the limelight. An exhibition 'Fishermen and Kings' at the Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery opened in 2017, assembling her vast collection of photographic portraits.