Peggy Somerville British, 1918-1975

Born Margaret Scott Somerville in Ashford, Middlesex, Peggy began to draw as soon as she could hold a pencil. A sureness of technique, composition and vision coupled with freshness and spontaneity of painting gave Peggy solo shows in London before the age of 14. She continued to exhibit to great acclaim. Sickert purchased, 'The White Horse' and pronounced it, "one of the finest landscapes yet painted by a (living) English artist".

At the tender age of ten, Peggy Somerville's first solo show saw a chic London gallery all but besieged. An exhibition of more than 100 paintings was sold out. The society portraitist Lavery, also listed amongst the buyers, was much echoed when he declared himself, "completely mystified by the little girls genius". Peggy exhibited her first works at the Royal Drawing Society when she was just 3 years old. And in 1927, New Irish Saloon Judges applauded, 'Happy Days by the Sea', unaware its creator was not yet nine.

At age 21 Peggy finally entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1939 but soon switched to the Women's Land Army. After the war she travelled extensively in Europe to broaden her influences. Still exhibiting widely she settled in Westleton near Aldeburgh to care for her elderly mother before waging her own battle against cancer.