The artistic world mourns the loss of Wendy Hoile, a prolific illustrator, artist, and web designer whose vibrant work adorned the covers of major publications and books, including the memoir of Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka. She has died at the age of 77.
From London Art Schools to Musical Pursuits
Born in Greenford, west London, Wendy Hoile grew up in Chiswick. After attending Staveley Road school, she completed a foundation course at Twickenham Art College. Her time at Epsom Art College was cut short when tutors criticised her figurative painting style. This led her towards a different creative path, inspired by her elder sister Linda, the lead singer of the jazz-rock band Affinity.
In 1972, she recorded a single featuring Harry Nilsson's Coconut with her own B-side. She later toured Italy under the stage name Blanch Carter and even attended the Lucie Clayton Model Academy, which she recalled taught her "how to get out of a sports car". During this period, she also volunteered for the Samaritans.
A Flourishing Career in Illustration
Her career took a decisive turn when her boyfriend, the magazine design innovator Robert Priest, suggested she try illustration. From 1973, her distinctive, colourful style and sharp editorial understanding brought her widespread recognition. Her work featured in mainstream magazines and newspapers including Time Out and the Observer, often as cover art.
In 1977, she and Priest moved to the United States to test the market, where both found professional success. However, feeling homesick, Hoile returned to Britain alone in 1981. Her career swiftly regained momentum, with her illustrations appearing on more magazine covers, Chester's piano books, and numerous book jackets.
Her most notable book cover was for Wole Soyinka's acclaimed memoir, Aké, published in 1981. In 1984, she won a national illustration prize for a piece titled Once in a Blue Moon, citing Smarties as her colour inspiration. She later created drawings about the Booker prize novels for the Times, and her still-life paintings became bestselling prints.
Life in Wiltshire and Lasting Legacy
In 1987, she became partners with the author of this obituary, and they married the following year. The couple moved to Wiltshire in 1990 with their two young sons. There, Hoile developed a passion for gardening and wildlife, and skilfully translated her visual talents into designing websites for local artists, including John Moores prize winner Michael Simpson.
She was a devoted mother, teaching music and art to her sons. Wendy Hoile is survived by her husband, their sons Charlie and Jack, and her elder sister, Linda. Her legacy endures through a body of work that brought vivid colour and insight to the pages of Britain's leading publications.
