Helen Bradley - Artist's Biography

Helen Bradley was a British painter and storyteller of daily life seen through a child’s eyes. Born in Lancashire, she had some training in embroidery and jewellery making at the local school of art. She began painting at the age of 65.

With her narrative paintings she depicted life in a small Lancashire mill town in the early 1900s. Vibrant colours capture the essence of actual episodes and delightful characters from her childhood, bearing a wonderful sense of fun. She took great enjoyment in capturing moments that played a big part in local people’s lives.

Helen Bradley first exhibited at the Saddleworth Art Society in 1965, followed by a London exhibition in 1966, and a sell-out exhibition at the Carter Gallery in Los Angeles in 1968. Other venues included Howarth Art Gallery in Accrington, Stirling University, Portico Library Manchester, Harrods London, Foyles Book Shop Gallery in London and Bolton Art Gallery

In 1971 Miss Carter Wore Pink, the first of four books of Helen Bradley’s scenes of an Edwardian childhood, was published by Jonathan Cape. It was an instant success, being translated and sold in Germany, France, Holland, Japan and the USA. Magazine features, and television and radio appearances further endeared this grandmother to the public.

In 1979 Helen Bradley was awarded the MBE for services to the arts but she died shortly before she was due to receive the award from Her Majesty The Queen. Helen Bradley’s Lancashire was published by Halsgrove in October 2002. This excellent book that details her life is extensively illustrated in colour.