‘Age is no barrier’: Shropshire artist, 96, to sell vibrant paintings at Willey Village Hall
Betsy Smith has been painting since winning an art college scholarship at the age of 13 and will showcase her work at Willey Village Hall later this month
A 96-year-old artist who has spent decades painting vibrant landscapes is preparing to put a selection of her work up for sale at a community event near her former Shropshire home.
Betsy Smith, who lived in Broseley for almost 30 years, will hold a pop-up art sale at Willey Village Hall on Sunday, September 27.
The event will feature a selection of Betsy's paintings, including works that were recently exhibited at Wolverhampton Art Gallery.
Now living in Wolverhampton, Betsy continues to paint and is renowned for her bold use of colour and dramatic compositions.
“I am really looking forward to my art sale at the hall’s annual ‘Apple Day’, which is a popular community gathering,” she said.
“I hope we will attract lots of local visitors and those from further afield who want to join in the fun and view my paintings which will be on display.”
Betsy's passion for art began at an early age and she won a scholarship to art college when she was just 13.
After leaving college, she began a career designing fabrics and scarves, before going on to work with an advertising agency in London during the 1950s.
She also worked for a publisher creating book covers and with a fashion designer, while later combining her career with raising a family.
Her work took her to the United States and she also opened a shop which provided an outlet for her paintings.
Betsy has remained closely involved with the Shropshire artistic community and taught painting classes in Bridgnorth and Broseley for 26 years.
Her return to Willey for the Apple Day event will give local people an opportunity to see and buy some of her work.
The Apple Day at Willey Village Hall will run from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, September 27.