smiles at the camera". Cartoon by H. M. Bateman (ca. 1912). Henry Bateman was born in the small village of
Sutton Forest in
New South Wales,
Australia. His parents were Henry Charles Bateman and Rose Mayo. His father had left
England for Australia in 1878, at the age of 21, to seek his fortune. He returned to England briefly in 1885 before going back with an English wife. Soon after Henry was born, the family returned to London. At the age of 14, he had already decided had an illustration published. In 1901, the cartoonist
Phil May, in response to a letter from Rose, showed interest in his drawings, and in that year, Bateman was inspired by an exhibition of black-and-white art at the
Victoria and Albert Museum. Bateman initially studied at Forest Hill House. His father had initially decided that he should follow him into business, but eventually, after many arguments, financed his study at the
Westminster School of Art, which he commenced at the age of 16. Bateman did well but was bored by the lifeless "life" classes and, after qualifying at Westminster, transferred his study to the
New Cross Art School. He also did some practical work at the studio of
Charles Van Havermaet. ==Career==