Dorothy Mary Hepworth & Patricia Preece

Dorothy Mary Hepworth was a reclusive painter, who allowed her lifelong partner, Patricia Preece, to sign and take credit for her work. Patricia Preece was a model, flirtatious and well-connected. Preece negotiated with dealers, who were convinced she was the artist, to exhibit and sell Hepworth's artwork. Hepworth and Preece moved to Cookham, ENG. in 1928 and lived with Hepworth’s parents.  They were involved in the Bloomsbury Group and befriended fellow artist Stanley Spencer. He was inspired by and became obsessed with Preece. He left his wife for her and married Preece in 1937. Eventually Preece evicted him from their home with Hepworth, however he continued to finance their lifestyle. Hepworth painted Sonya Redway Reading in the 1940's in Cookham, England. The subject, Sonya Redway, was born and raised in Cookham and knew Hepworth and Preece personally. Presently, there are two known works depicting Sonya Redway, which were offered at the Bloomsbury Workshop in 2000. Sonya Redway is now believed to be deceased.

Sources:

“Dorothy Hepworth (1898-1978).” Court Gallery. Accessed February 19, 2014.               

http://www.courtgallery.com/artists/Hepworth.html.

Corinne, Tee A. “Hepworth, Dorothy and Patricia Preece.” Glbtq Arts, last modified January 22, 2003,

http://www.glbtq.com/arts/hepworth_preece.html.