A rare glimpse of Lady's art (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

A rare glimpse of Lady's art

Above, Lady Silvy McQuiston with the pencil drawing her mother, Virginia Lady Bath, did of her when she was just two years old, along with a photograph of the late Lady Bath taken at a similar time. (17541)A COLLECTION of drawings, paintings and embroideries by the late Virginia Lady Bath will be displayed at an exhibition in Warminster to commemorate her artistic life.

The exhibition, which has been arranged by her daughter, Lady Silvy McQuiston, will take place at the Athanaeum Centre in High Street between September 23 and September 26.

The display will feature more than 30 pieces of Lady Bath's artwork, including a limited edition book she made for her late husband Henry, the sixth Marquis of Bath, with paintings of flowers on the Longleat Pleasure Walk.

Among other pieces of interest will be a pencil portrait of Lady Silvy at two years old and an embroidered cushion that was auctioned to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief, for which Lady Bath was president of the charity's local fundraising committee.

Lady Silvy said: "This is a rare opportunity for the people of Warminster to see a collection of my mother's work.

"There will be some fascinating pieces on display, many of which have been kindly donated by my brother, Lord Bath, from his private collection at Longleat.

"My favourites would have to be the watercolour paintings of the Channel Islands where we used to go on holiday.

"I'm sure they will bring back many happy memories."

As a young girl Lady Bath's introduction to the art world began with private tuition from the controversial Duncan Grant, a member of the Bloomsbury Set of artists and thinkers, and later Sir William Coldstream.

She attended the Slade School of Art in London before moving to Paris to study at both the Academie Gran Chaumiere and Academie Ranson.

For three years before her death in September 2003, Lady Bath was also president of the Frome Arts Society, where she regularly attended and exhibited at the Swan Arts Centre.

Lady Silvy, who herself is a keen artist and potter, will be attending the exhibition in an embroidered waistcoat worked by her mother.

She said: "It is fitting that the exhibition will be held at the Athanaem Centre because my mother loved to watch the productions here and she was a well-loved figure around Warminster, where she regularly did her shopping."

The doors to the Athanaeum Centre will open between 10.30am and 4pm and donations of any size will be accepted on behalf of Macmillan Cancer Relief.