Jill Bennett's exceptional dolls successfully integrate her interests and studies in the fields of book illustration, the theatre, social history and story telling. Her dolls are not generic nursemaids, men or women, but are highly individual characters, whose life story can be seen in their face, dress and pose.
Jill's career and training began with fine art and theater, a strong foundation which continues to enhance her work. In the field of miniatures she began working with vignettes as decorative objects. A friend and I began to make little vignettes that could be put on good bases and under glass domes as a decorative object. We did it as a relaxation from our main work. She was a good potter and taught it and I was a children's book illustrator. When things began to move over here and collectors entered the market we made more and more.
Her first doll was made of pipecleaners and self hardening clay to see if she could manage the size. She had embroidery silk for hair and dreadful fabric for her dress. I called her Putney Lil as we lived in Putney – London – and it made me smile. Jersey Lilly was Edward Prince of Wales' mistress and v. beautiful – Putney Lil was anything but! I still have her in my genuine 1900 dolls house.