ne day or should
it be once upon a time, Helen Bradley picked up a paintbrush. She mixed
a little pink colour, she painted the dress of a tiny figure. From that
moment was created the enchanting land that was to delight millions. The
figure she painted was that of Miss Carter (who wore pink) who features
in most of Helen Bradley's paintings. Other characters you will find are
her mother, grandmother, her three maiden aunts, Mr Taylor (the bank manager)
Helen herself with brother George and their dogs Gyp and Barney and many
others.
Helen Bradley was
born on the 20th of November 1900 at number 58, High Street, Lees, near
Oldham, Lancashire. She was interested in art all her life, but it was
not until she was in her sixties and her grandchildren were asking what
life was like when she was a child, that she started painting the scenes
she remembered of her own Edwardian Childhood.
These narrative paintings
were first exhibited at The Saddleworth Art Society in 1965, followed
by a London exhibition in 1966, and a sell out exhibition at the appropriately
named Carter Gallery in Los Angeles in 1968.
In 1971 Jonathan
Cape published the first of four books "And Miss Carter Wore Pink". This
was an instant success. German, French, Dutch and Japanese editions were
published, and a special edition produced for the U.S.A.
Requests for illustrations
of her work were satisfied by the publication of 30 Signed Limited Edition
Prints, 3 Unsigned Limited Edition Prints and 11 Open Edition Prints.
Magazine features,
appearances on television and radio endeared this Grandma in her sixties
to the general public. Helen Bradley awarded the M.B.E. for services to
the arts died on the 19th of July 1979 shortly before she was due to receive
her M.B.E. from Her Majesty The Queen.
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