Betty Davison
Born
Elizabeth Mary Gertrude Young

1909
Ottawa, Ontario
Died2000
Ottawa
EducationOttawa Municipal Art Centre (1962, 1972-1974)
Spouses
Richard Lewis
​
(m. 1939)​
    Arthur Davison
    ​
    (m. 1954)​

    Betty Davison (née Elizabeth Mary Gertrude Young) (1909-2000) was a Canadian painter and printmaker known especially known for her representational cast relief prints.

    Career

    Davison (1909-2000) was born in Ottawa.[1] She studied life drawing and sculpture at the High School of Commerce with Lionel Fosbery and Ernest Fosbery; with Alma Duncan at the Ottawa Municipal Art Centre (1962); with Duncan De Kergommeaux at Carleton University, Ottawa (1968-69); and with James Boyd, Hilde Schreier, and Victor Tolgesy at the Ottawa Municipal Art Centre again (1972-1974).[2] She credited Alma Duncan with encouraging her to return to her artistic career.[3]

    Her studies in printmaking with Hilde Schreier during the 1970s led Davison to experiment with the creation of cast paper reliefs,[1] and it is in this medium that she found success.[3] Her 1974 print Paper Roses received a $1,000 purchase award from the Ontario Arts Council (1974).[1] Her awards and grants include the Martha Jackson Gallery, New York, purchase award ( 1977); purchase award, 6th International Miniature Print Competition (1977); Reid Memorial Award, Print, and Drawing Council of Canada (P&DCC), Calgary (1977); the Harold Pitman prize (1978); and a purchase award from the Glenhyrst Art Gallery of Brant in 1983 and others.[3][2]

    She also danced and acted with the Ottawa Little Theatre,[1] through the 1930s and 1940s when she was also frequently photographed by Yousuf Karsh. She held her first solo exhibition in the theatre's foyer in 1945.[3] Her solo and two-artist shows include: Robertson Galleries, Ottawa (1970); Gallery Graphics, Ottawa (2-artist, 1977) and others. Her important group shows include: Graphex 4, Art Gallery of Brantford (1976); 6th Intl. Miniature Print Exhibition, Pratt Graphic Institute, NYC (1977); Graphex 5, Art Gallery of Brantford (1977).[2]

    Her work is represented in many public collections, such as the Art Gallery of Ontario; the National Gallery of Canada, and others.[2] She was a member of the Print and Drawing Council of Canada and of Canadian Artists' Representation.[2]

    Personal life

    Davison married Richard Lewis in 1939; he died three years later and Davison in order to support her family Davison took portrait commissions as well as working as a secretary at the Department of External Affairs. In 1952, she married the architect Arthur Davison, a fellow actor at the Ottawa Little Theatre.

    Davison died in Ottawa.[1]

    References

    1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Canadian Women Artists History Initiative : Artist Database : Artists : DAVISON, Betty". Retrieved 10 February 2017.
    2. 1 2 3 4 5 A Dictionary of Canadian Artists, volumes 1-8 by Colin S. MacDonald, and volume 9 (online only), by Anne Newlands and Judith Parker National Gallery of Canada / Musée des beaux-arts du Canada
    3. 1 2 3 4 Jules Heller; Nancy G. Heller (19 December 2013). North American Women Artists of the Twentieth Century: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-135-63882-5.
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