Ernest Robinson Hillier 1913-1991(cartoonist, caricaturist, writer, photographer, car driver and designer, was born in Sydney and educated at Cranbrook School. A biography in Man of August 1937 (p.4), when Hillier was aged 24, states:
“... He cut his teeth, 'tis said, on a drawing board, and at the ripe old age of six won a competition in the Children’s Section of The Sunday Sun . Ever since, art has been his hobby but he sincerely hopes that he will never have to depend on it for a living. So far, he has devoted most of his time to caricaturing. Besides having driven in many motor competitions Rob has designed several car bodies for fastidious owners, and was also one of the first to start Outboard Motorboat racing on Sydney Harbour. His series appearing in Man are quite individual in style. In 'Albert’ he has created quite a successful cartoon character.”
Albert originals and other cartoons and caricatures 1931-37 reproduced in Fashion and Society , Photoplayer and Man are in Mitchell Library (PXE 649 vol.14), including Albert and female nude with drawing pin nipples – a characteristic Man gag.
Rob Hillier was also a journalist/writer, author of Let’s buy a terrace house .
- Writers:
- Kerr, Joan
- Date written:
- 1996
- Last updated:
- 2017
