Penelope Beaton facts for kids

Penelope Beaton (1886-1963) was a talented Scottish artist. She was famous for her beautiful watercolour paintings. Penelope was inspired by a style called expressionism, which uses strong colours and shapes to show feelings. She was also a respected member of important art groups like the Royal Scottish Academy. Beaton taught art at the Edinburgh College of Art for many years. Her amazing artwork was shown in many places across Scotland.

Her Early Life

Penelope Beaton was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1886. She loved art from a young age. She decided to study at the famous Edinburgh College of Art. She finished her studies there in 1917.

Before becoming a full-time artist, Penelope worked as a teacher. She taught at Hamilton Academy for a short time. One of her students was Mary Nicol Neill Armour, who later became a well-known artist herself. Mary said that Penelope really encouraged her to pursue art.

In 1919, Penelope Beaton returned to the Edinburgh College of Art. This time, she joined the teaching staff. She eventually became the head of the Junior Department. She worked with other talented artists there, like John Maxwell. He also became a famous painter.

Her Artistic Style

Penelope Beaton's paintings were shown all over Scotland. She had over 100 works displayed at the Royal Scottish Academy. Her art was also seen at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. She regularly showed her work with the Scottish Society of Artists. In 1957, she became an Associate member of the Royal Scottish Academy. This was a big honour for her.

Penelope's early use of colour was influenced by William George Gillies. He was another artist who trained and taught at the Edinburgh College of Art. Like Gillies, Penelope used both oil paints and watercolours. She loved to paint the rugged Scottish landscape. The jagged east coast of Scotland was a big inspiration for her. She created a series of paintings based on the shoreline of Iona, a beautiful island.