Mollie Horseman

Marie Compston "Mollie" Horseman (9 December 1911 – 7 May 1974), was an Australian comic book artist, book illustrator and fashion artist. Horseman is most notable for her work on the 1950s comic strips, "Pam" and "The Clothes Horse".

Biography Marie Horseman was born in Rochester, Victoria on 9 December 1911, the daughter of Frederick Ernest Horseman (1882-1966), a farmer, and his wife Katherine Marie Compston (née Miller), who were migrants from Yorkshire, England. In 1924, when she was thirteen, her parents separated and Horseman travelled with her mother to England before moving to Germany.

On returning to Australia she was briefly employed by Norman Lindsay and his second wife, Rose, as a governess, for their two daughters.

In 1929 Horseman together with Joan Morrison became the first female cartoonists to be permanent employees at Smith's Weekly.

Horseman married William Longford Power, an articled clerk, on 2 September 1931 at the North Sydney registry office. They had one son, Roderick Packenham, before they divorced

Horseman then married Nelson Illingworth, grandson of the sculptor Nelson Illingworth on 8 June 1938 at the Mosman Presbyterian Church. Horseman took responsibility for Cullen's new comic strip, "Pam" in the Sunday Mail and "The Clothes Horse" in The Sydney Morning Herald.

In 1957 she moved to Avalon, a northern beachside suburb of Sydney, with her five children, where she remained until 1967. although she was definitely the best known.

Between 1967 and 1969 she returned to Brisbane, where she illustrated books for Jacaranda Press. and was buried at St Thomas's Church in Mulgoa.

Publications