Jill Bennett started making dolls in the late 1970's and found they were an ideal vehicle for her three great interests - story telling, the theatre and social history.

She tries to make each doll a person, with individual personality and clothes to match, whether they are aristocrat, servant or street urchin. Jill Bennett makes small dolls. Most of them are strictly 1 inch to the foot (1/12th scale is the international scale for dolls houses). But from time to time she makes slightly larger ones up to 9 inches high.

The miniature dolls have porcelain heads and pewter bodies strung through with twisted steel wire at the joints. This gives them considerable flexibility to stand or sit or adopt other poses. (They will stand without support.)

The larger dolls have porcelain heads, hands and feet. Their bodies are padded and wired to give some flexibility.

Jill Bennett has been drawing and painting all her life. As a child she wanted to be a childrens book illustrator and indeed she worked as one for many years. Among the authors she has illustrated are Roald Dahl, Dorothy Edwards, Dick King-Smith and Helen Cresswell.

Her other great love is the theatre. She studied theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art. So began a lfetime study of historical clothes and the way of life of the people who wore them.

By clicking on the boxes above you will find 'Dolls in Period' this shows a historical, educational and entertaining selection of Jill's dolls in historical order. In 'Jill Bennett' section you will find further information on her illustration, story telling and other loves.