Helen Bradley MBE 1900-1979

Helen Bradley was born in 1900 in a small village called Lees near Oldham in Lancashire. Whilst young she had a little training in jewellery and embroidery at the local School of Art but did not start to paint until the age of 65. She began to paint to tell her small granddaughter what life was like when she herself was a small girl.

Many unusual interests are woven into her work, a love of early mogul pictures, the Dutch masters and works of Chinese painting, plus one of her special ingredients the recollection of atmospheres and event.

Her paintings are full of busy people and are painted in a flat decorative style, without roundness and without shadows. Miss Carter (who wore pink) features in most of Helen Bradley's paintings. Other characters you will find are her mother, grandmother, her three maiden aunts, Mr Taylor (the bank manager) Helen herself with brother George and their dogs Gyp and Barney and many others.

These narrative paintings were first exhibited at The Saddleworth Art Society in 1965, followed by a London exhibition in 1966, and a sell out exhibition at the appropriately named Carter Gallery in Los Angeles in 1968.

In 1971 Jonathan Cape published the first of four books "And Miss Carter Wore Pink". This was an instant success. German, French, Dutch and Japanese editions were published, and a special edition produced for the U.S.A. 3 other books were subsequently published, "Miss Carter came With Us"," In The Beginning said Great Aunt Jane" and "The Queen Who Came to Tea". All were very successful.

Requests for illustrations of her work were satisfied by the publication of 30 Signed Limited Edition Prints, 3 Unsigned Limited Edition Prints and 11 Open Edition Prints.

Magazine features, appearances on television and radio endeared this Grandma in her sixties to the general public. Helen Bradley was awarded the M.B.E. for services to the arts, but she died on the 19th of July 1979 shortly before she was due to receive her M.B.E. from Her Majesty The Queen.

. "Helen Bradley's Lancashire" was published by Halsgrove in October 2002. This excellent book details her life and is extensively illustrated with colour pictures of her paintings. The last few years has seen a surge in demand for paintings by Helen Bradley with a world record price of over £170,000 being achieved at Bonhams in London for "The Four Seasons" in November 2013


Helen Bradley MBE

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Helen Bradley MBE - "And Miss Carter Wore Pink"

Illustrated Book

10.5 x 12 ins (26.67 x 30.48 cms)

Price: £27.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - "In the Beginning" said Great Aunt Jane

Illustrated Book

10.41 x 11.79 ins (26.44 x 29.95 cms)

Price: £27.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - "Miss Carter Came With Us"

Illustrated Book

10.41 x 11.79 ins (26.44 x 29.95 cms)

Price: £27.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - "The Queen Who Came To Tea"

Illustrated Book

10.41 x 11.79 ins (26.44 x 29.95 cms)

Price: £35.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - Alice Oh Alice. Please Come.

Oil on Board

16 x 22 ins (40.64 x 55.88 cms)

Price: £28,000.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - Edith in the Black Felt Hat

Oil on Board

15 x 11 ins (38.10 x 27.94 cms)

Price: £21,000.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - Playing on Ice

Helen Bradley

Playing on Ice

Oil on Board

16 x 20 ins (40.64 x 50.80 cms)

Price: £42,000.00

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Helen Bradley MBE - A Misty Pond

Helen Bradley

A Misty Pond

Watercolour

14 x 20½ ins (35.56 x 52.07 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Betty's Cottage

Helen Bradley

Betty's Cottage

Oil on Board

10 x 14 ins (25.40 x 35.56 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Going Home Along Spring Lane

Oil on Board

9.25 x 12 ins (23.50 x 30.48 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Jonah's Whale

Helen Bradley

Jonah's Whale

Oil on Board

16 x 20 ins (40.64 x 50.80 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Helen Bradley

Oh Come All Ye Faithful

Oil on Board

18 x 24 ins (45.72 x 60.96 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - On the Promanade, Blackpool

Watercolour and Gouache

11 x 15 ins (27.94 x 38.10 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Picnic in a Cornfield

Helen Bradley

Picnic in a Cornfield

Oil on Board

16 x 22 ins (40.64 x 55.88 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - The Bluebells of Scotland

Oil on Board

16 x 20 ins (40.64 x 50.80 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - The Day Thou Gavest Lord Has Ended

Oil on Board

20 x 35¾ ins (50.80 x 90.81 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - The First Early Days of Spring

Oil on Board

16 x 20 ins (40.64 x 50.80 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - The German Band Played Outside Mrs Higginbottom's Shop

Oil on Board

21 x 14 ins (53.34 x 35.56 cms)

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Helen Bradley MBE - Young Aunt Charlotte

Helen Bradley

Young Aunt Charlotte

Oil on Board

21 x 13 ins (53.34 x 33.02 cms)

Sold Sold

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Featured Artist

LUCI MANFREDI

This is a selection of works we have for sale by Luci Manfredi, an artist new to the gallery.

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Clark Art Ltd
155, Ashley Road, Hale
Cheshire, WA14 2UW

Tel: +44 (0)161 929 5150
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Email: art@clark-art.co.uk