Age no barrier as 95-year-old artist unveils latest exhibition
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to display my work again”
An artist who is well-known in Shropshire has launched an exhibition at one of the region’s biggest galleries.
Betsy Smith, who lived in Broseley for almost 30 years before moving to France and then to Wolverhampton, is proving that age is not barrier when it comes to being creative.
Despite being 95 years young she is still painting her distinctive vibrant landscapes, a range of which are on show at Wolverhampton Art Gallery until the end of August.
“This is my first exhibition in three years and I am delighted to have the opportunity to display my work again,” said Betsy, who is renowned for her bold use of colour and dramatic composition.
With an ambition to paint since a young age, Betsy won a scholarship to art college when she was just 13 years old.
After leaving college she got a job designing fabrics and scarves and this was the start of an interesting career which led to work with an advertising agency in London in the 1950s, a publisher creating book covers and a fashion designer.
In addition she combined raising a family with working in the USA and opening a shop which was also the outlet for her paintings.
A well-known member of the Shropshire artistic community, Betsy taught painting to classes in Bridgnorth and Broseley for 26 years.