Contact Seller
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Tel01597 272 439or07790 208 712Please quote Antiques Atlas.
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Non UK callers :
+44 1597 272 439
or +44 7790 208 712
or +44 7790 208 712
Joan de Bethel (1923-2017) 'Washing Up'
Signed Bethel and dated 74
Watercolour on white paper
Presented in a new mount
Joan (Burton) was born on November 25 1923, in Brighton. She was an only child she and her parents moved to Greenford, Middlesex just before Joan started school, moving again to Gloucester Place, London, by the time Joan was in her mid-teens.
On leaving school, she was accepted at St Martins School of Art and Design, where her interest in theatrical costume and set design was encouraged and developed. During the war a film of Henry V, starring Laurence Olivier, was championed by Churchill, intended as a morale booster for Britain. Students from St Martins were co-opted to help create the banners and tabards of the fighting crowds, and Joan was one of those involved. The war was a time when home grown talent both in the theatre and ballet flourished, and after the war, the theatre continued to grow in the optimistic days of the early 1950’s. It was a good time to be a designer working in the theatre and was the happiest time of Joan’s life. In 1952 she met David de Bethel, another artist/designer their engagement was announced in The Stage in 1953.
Their daughter Caroline was born in 1955, Joan and David by then working together as a partnership. Their work attracted the attention of the founder of the New Zealand Players – David was a New Zealander – resulting in their moving to New Zealand in 1957 to work with the young theatre company. They returned to London in 1959, but found, on their return, the west end theatre had moved on, and the sort of shows for which they were known were no longer being produced. Looking for an alternative means of income, a prototype of the painted cats, which later would become so well known was produced, with some success.
The very first cats were layered paper over a chicken wire base, soon replaced by moulded papier mache. Wanting their daughter to grow up in the countryside, the family moved to Lewes, and then to Udimore, Sussex, in 1964. The cats were now increasingly in demand made by David , painted by Joan, finally varnished by David, they were sold to outlets in the UK and the USA. During their time in Udimore, Joan became a member of the Rye Society of Artists (RSA), regularly exhibiting and selling her watercolours in their annual exhibition.
David died in 1977 just a few months before his death, he and Joan had approached Rye Pottery to have the cats made in pottery, that could then be painted, thus enabling Joan to continue producing the cats, which she sustained until into the new millennium. Joan moved to Rye in 1981.
Whilst the cats were provided a steady income, her watercolours were her pleasure she continued to exhibit with the RSA, until poor eyesight, and the encroachment of dementia made this an impossibility. The advancement of dementia necessitated a move to Thornwood in Bexhill, where she lived for the last five years of her life. Though her memory of her life with David, and in Rye, was completely lost, she continued to draw, her pleasure in her art continuing to the end of her life.
Source: RYE/NEWS By Caroline Crabtree - October 19, 2017
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be processed through Stripe on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. We offer two methods of paying by instalments the first is with Stripe, 'Klarna' / Pay in 3 monthly interest free instalments. Deferred payments can also be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us, this method is also interest free. With Stripe the item will be shipped after the first instalment has cleared.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
If a picture is shown to be framed, then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. All the pictures we offer are available for purchase in the condition you see them advertised. More details including high resolution images can be sent for closer inspection. For added protection unframed and mounted pictures are wrapped in clear polyester film before shipping to the customer.
SellerRadnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealer
By appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
or : 07790 208 712
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439 or +44 7790 208 712
Watercolour on white paper
Presented in a new mount
Joan (Burton) was born on November 25 1923, in Brighton. She was an only child she and her parents moved to Greenford, Middlesex just before Joan started school, moving again to Gloucester Place, London, by the time Joan was in her mid-teens.
On leaving school, she was accepted at St Martins School of Art and Design, where her interest in theatrical costume and set design was encouraged and developed. During the war a film of Henry V, starring Laurence Olivier, was championed by Churchill, intended as a morale booster for Britain. Students from St Martins were co-opted to help create the banners and tabards of the fighting crowds, and Joan was one of those involved. The war was a time when home grown talent both in the theatre and ballet flourished, and after the war, the theatre continued to grow in the optimistic days of the early 1950’s. It was a good time to be a designer working in the theatre and was the happiest time of Joan’s life. In 1952 she met David de Bethel, another artist/designer their engagement was announced in The Stage in 1953.
Their daughter Caroline was born in 1955, Joan and David by then working together as a partnership. Their work attracted the attention of the founder of the New Zealand Players – David was a New Zealander – resulting in their moving to New Zealand in 1957 to work with the young theatre company. They returned to London in 1959, but found, on their return, the west end theatre had moved on, and the sort of shows for which they were known were no longer being produced. Looking for an alternative means of income, a prototype of the painted cats, which later would become so well known was produced, with some success.
The very first cats were layered paper over a chicken wire base, soon replaced by moulded papier mache. Wanting their daughter to grow up in the countryside, the family moved to Lewes, and then to Udimore, Sussex, in 1964. The cats were now increasingly in demand made by David , painted by Joan, finally varnished by David, they were sold to outlets in the UK and the USA. During their time in Udimore, Joan became a member of the Rye Society of Artists (RSA), regularly exhibiting and selling her watercolours in their annual exhibition.
David died in 1977 just a few months before his death, he and Joan had approached Rye Pottery to have the cats made in pottery, that could then be painted, thus enabling Joan to continue producing the cats, which she sustained until into the new millennium. Joan moved to Rye in 1981.
Whilst the cats were provided a steady income, her watercolours were her pleasure she continued to exhibit with the RSA, until poor eyesight, and the encroachment of dementia made this an impossibility. The advancement of dementia necessitated a move to Thornwood in Bexhill, where she lived for the last five years of her life. Though her memory of her life with David, and in Rye, was completely lost, she continued to draw, her pleasure in her art continuing to the end of her life.
Source: RYE/NEWS By Caroline Crabtree - October 19, 2017
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay can be processed through Stripe on our company website. We also accept payment by cheque and bank transfer. We offer two methods of paying by instalments the first is with Stripe, 'Klarna' / Pay in 3 monthly interest free instalments. Deferred payments can also be accepted over an agreed period of time whilst paintings remain with us, this method is also interest free. With Stripe the item will be shipped after the first instalment has cleared.
CONDITION AND PRESENTATION
If a picture is shown to be framed, then the frame will be included with the sale of the picture. All the pictures we offer are available for purchase in the condition you see them advertised. More details including high resolution images can be sent for closer inspection. For added protection unframed and mounted pictures are wrapped in clear polyester film before shipping to the customer.
Price The price has been listed in British Pounds.
Conversion rates as of 23/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
DimensionsPaper: 8 1/8 in x 11 5/16 in. (20.5 cm x 28.8 cm.)
Mount: 13 3/8 in x 16 1/8 in. (33.8 cm x 41 cm.)
Window: 7 1/2 in x 10 1/4 in. (19 cm x 26.1 cm.)
Category Antique Pictures / Engravings / Art
> Antique Watercolours
Date 1974
1950s Antiques Material Paper
Origin English
Condition Very good. This watercolour has been cleaned and mounted by an accredited paper conservator
Item code as176a664
Status Sold
£0 
$0.00 
€0.00 
$
€
Conversion rates as of 23/DEC/2025. Euro & Dollar prices will vary and should only be used as a guide.
Always confirm final price with dealer. SOLD
Shipping information
All our prices include FREE packing and delivery within the UK.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
If you live outside the UK and you wish to purchase a painting, please contact us by phone or e-mail for further details concerning shipping costs.
Terms and conditions
Returns and Complaints
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
Great care and trouble has been taken to ensure that all details written for every picture are correct and the photos are of sufficient quality so that each item can be viewed in detail. If the purchaser can find a fault (by way of a photograph) as proof of damage in transit that is not present in our promotional photo i.e. a tear in the canvas, broken glass, broken frame, damage to surface of picture, then a full or part refund will be offered back to the purchaser depending on the extent of the damage. This will only apply within 24 hours of signing for the parcel.
If the parcel has arrived and appears to be damaged in some way please return the parcel to us (unopened) and we will refund the purchase price on receipt of the picture.
If the purchaser can prove with written evidence from three independent experts that our description was false or misleading in any way then a full refund will be offered back to the purchaser.
Every effort has been made to give our clients complete confidence and satisfaction when buying from our company.
View all stock from
Radnorshire Fine Arts Ltd
Private dealerBy appointment only
Powys
Mid Wales
Tel : 01597 272 439
or : 07790 208 712
Non UK callers : +44 1597 272 439 or +44 7790 208 712
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Antique Watercolour Painting by Frank Dadd
Large Vintage Coastal Painting, Welsh, Framed
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