Celia Bedford 1904-1979

Celia Frances Bedford was born in Kensington, her father being the illustrator Francis Donkin Bedford. She studied at the Chelsea School of Art 1931-1932. As well as painting portraits she often depicted groups of people relaxing in cafes and restaurants. She specialised in lithography and was an artist member of the Senefelder Club. Bedford had solo exhibitons at the Twenty-One Gallery and the Leicester Galleries in London. She exhibited on a regular basis at the Royal Academy, the Royal Society of British Artists and the Society of Women Artists. She was also a member of the Women’s International Art Club and in 1955 was elected a member of the New English Art Club. In 1960 a memorial exhibition for Bedford’s work was held at Walker’s Galleries in London. Works by her are held in the collections of the British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and Leamington Spa Art Gallery. Her 1935 self-portrait is in the collection of the Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport.