Cherished Teddies® - by Artist Priscilla Hillman
About the Artist - Priscilla Hillman
Artist Priscilla Hillman grew up in New England with her twin sister Greta,
brother Rick and their parents. It was during her childhood that she
discovered her love and talent for drawing. Along with her sister, she would
spend many hours drawing and painting at the kitchen table, while her mother
baked. However, it was many years later before her artistic talents would
become her primary focus.
Priscilla was a student at the University of Rhode Island, where she majored
in botany. It was at the University that she met her husband, Norman. After
graduating, Priscilla joined the U.S. Oceanographic service, where she
served as a marine biologist, but she knew that art was her first love.
After the birth to her son, Glenn, in 1969, Priscilla realized the
opportunity to use her creative talents and went to work as a book
illustrator. Her illustrative work can be seen in the Merry Mouse series of
books, first published by Doubleday in 1980.
In 1980, Priscilla was forced to spend months lying flat on her back as the
result of a serious back problem. It was during this prolonged period of
inactivity that Priscilla began to form her visions of teddy bears that
eventually became the inspiration for the Cherished Teddies range. Lying
there, reminiscing over her happy childhood memories of rooting through her
Aunt’s attic, spending afternoons in the family garden or sitting around the
kitchen table, Priscilla used these nostalgic thoughts as the inspiration
for her future Cherished Teddies artwork.
As soon as she was able, Priscilla rushed to her drawing board and let the
teddy bear images flow from her. She very quickly had 36 drawings. Having
been aware of the collectible market, Priscilla took her pictures to the
Enesco Corporation. Her artwork was instantly recognized for its special
qualities and a partnership was formed.
As well as the Cherished Teddies collection, Priscilla is also responsible
for design on other Enesco brands, including the Calico Kittens, My Blushing
Bunnies and Mouse Tails collections.
Cherished Teddies
Enesco introduced the Cherished Teddies collection in the United States in
1992. The debut collection featured 16 teddy bear figurines.
Each Cherished Teddies figurine starts from a Hillman drawing. Enesco
artists then carefully craft a matching figurine of cold cast resin, which
is later hand-painted with an oil-based lacquer paint.
Other than some special edition and collector club figurines, all Cherished
Teddies are packaged with their own certificate of adoption, an addition
that enhances the personality captured in each design and strengthens the
bond with the lucky owner.
In 1995, responding to overwhelming enthusiasm from the public, Enesco
launched the Cherished Teddies Club. Members of the club (or “membears”, as
they are known) receive news, invites to special events and a variety of
membear-only special offers and other benefits.
The Cherished Teddies collection is one of the world's leading teddy bear
gift and collectible brands, sold in many countries around the world,
including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Germany. The collection
has been honored with numerous awards in the gift and collectibles industry,
including the Teddy Bear of the Year (TOBY) from Teddy Bear and Friends
Magazine in 1992, “Collectible of the Year” by the National Association of
Limited Edition Dealers (NALED) in 1993, the 1996 and 1997 NALED Miniature
of the Year, the 1997 Parkwest Oustanding Collectible of the Year, the 1997
NALED Collectors Club of the Year, the 2001 Teddy Bear of the Year Industry
Choice Award by Teddy Bear and Friends Magazine and the Golden Teddy Award
by Teddy Bear Review Magazine in 2003.
Priscilla’s son, Glenn, joined his mother in designing Cherished Teddies in
1999. Glenn has taken some of the load from his mother by designing over 130
figurines.
© 2007 Woolvey LLC
|
