Elisabeth Collins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elisabeth Collins
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|---|---|
| Born |
Elisabeth Ward Ramsden
31 October 1904 Halifax, West Yorkshire, England
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| Died | 17 January 2000 (aged 95) |
| Nationality | British |
| Education |
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| Known for | Painting and sculpture |
| Spouse(s) | Cecil Collins (m.1931-1989, his death) |
Elisabeth Ward Collins (born Ramsden, 31 October 1904 – 17 January 2000) was a talented British painter and sculptor. She created many unique artworks throughout her life.
Her Life and Art
Elisabeth Collins was born in Halifax, England, in 1904. Her father owned a local newspaper, and her mother was a skilled piano player.
Early Education and Marriage
Elisabeth first studied sculpture at the Leeds School of Art. After that, she went to the Royal College of Art (RCA) in London. There, she was taught by the famous sculptor Henry Moore. At the RCA, she met another student named Cecil Collins. They fell in love and got married in 1931.
Artistic Journey
Both Elisabeth and Cecil were artists with similar styles. They often included ideas from old stories or fantasy in their paintings. Because of this, Elisabeth's work was sometimes less noticed than her husband's. To help people tell their art apart, Elisabeth sometimes showed her work under the name "Belmoat." She also often posed for her husband's paintings and strongly supported his art.
From 1937 to 1945, the couple lived near an artistic community at Dartington Hall. This was a very creative time for Elisabeth. She made dream-like pictures of mystical figures. She used materials like gouache, ink, and watercolour. These paintings reminded people of the surrealist artists she had met in Paris in the early 1930s.
Later Years and Recognition
After 1948, the Collinses lived in Cambridge. They helped start the Cambridge Society of Painters and Sculptors. They also lived in London, Yorkshire, and Oxford at different times.
In 1973, Elisabeth and her husband were asked to decorate a chapel together. This was for Chichester Cathedral. After Cecil passed away in 1989, Elisabeth continued to create art in his studio. Her art was shown in special exhibitions in London. The Tate, a very famous art museum in London, even bought four of her artworks!
In her later life, Elisabeth became involved with a church in London. She was buried next to her husband in Highgate Cemetery.
