Weaver Hawkins
Personal life
Personal life
-------------

Weaver Hawkins was born on 28 August 1893 in [Sydenham](/wiki/Sydenham%2C_London "Sydenham, London"), an area of London, England. He was the eldest of five sons of architect Edgar Augustine Hawkins and his wife Annie Elizabeth, née Weaver.

Weaver Hawkins attended [Dulwich College](/wiki/Dulwich_College "Dulwich College") from 1906 to 1910, and then Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts. World War I derailed his intention to become an art teacher.

Weaver Hawkins enlisted in the [Queen's Westminster Rifles](/wiki/Queen%27s_Westminsters "Queen's Westminsters") and was seriously wounded in the [Battle of the Somme](/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme "Battle of the Somme") at [Gommecourt](/wiki/Gommecourt%2C_Pas-de-Calais "Gommecourt, Pas-de-Calais"), France in 1916\.[Harold Frederick Hawkins Biography](http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hawkins-harold-frederick-10457) *Australian Dictionary of Biography* As a result of his injuries his right hand and arm were rendered useless but were saved from amputation after countless operations. His father had declared to the operating surgeon "My son is an artist. He would rather die than live without arms.".E. Chanin and S. Miller, *The Art and Life of Weaver Hawkins* (Sydney, 1995\) p36 Initially right\-handed, Weaver Hawkins had to teach himself to draw and paint using his left arm, which was never at full strength. There are references to him painting with a paintbrush in his mouth, but he seemed to have resolved working with his left hand, supported by his damaged right arm.

In 1923, he married Irene (Rene) Eleanor Villiers, another artist. They had a daughter and two sons. Weaver Hawkins settled his family in Australia in 1935\.

In 1927, to avoid public and media perceptions of being identified as a 'wounded artist' rather than an artist in his own right, Weaver began signing his paintings with the art\-name 'Raokin,’ (the Italian phonetic pronunciation of 'Mr. Hawkins,')[Weaver Hawkins](http://www.artgalleryofballarat.com.au/explore-and-experience/collection/australian-collection/hawkins,-weaver.aspx) Art Gallery of Ballarat although he later became more popularly known as Weaver Hawkins.

The Hawkins were regarded as bohemian, dressed informally and it was noted that "Mr Hawkins had not worn shoes for years... He designs and makes his own sandals".

In 1963 [Vladas Meskenas](/wiki/Vladas_Meskenas "Vladas Meskenas") won the [Helena Rubinstein portrait prize](/wiki/Helena_Rubinstein_portrait_prize "Helena Rubinstein portrait prize") for a double portrait of Weaver and his wife.

He died on 13 August 1977 in the Sydney suburb of [Willoughby](/wiki/Willoughby%2C_New_South_Wales "Willoughby, New South Wales"), Australia.


How was Weaver Hawkins injured during World War I?