Background
She was born Nancy Sharp on October 29, 1909 in Truro, Cornwall and attended Cheltenham Ladies" College and the Slade School of Artist
She was born Nancy Sharp on October 29, 1909 in Truro, Cornwall and attended Cheltenham Ladies" College and the Slade School of Artist
Cheltenham Ladies" College. Slade School of Fine Artist
In the late 1930s she had an affair with Louis MacNeice, illustrating two of his books and partially inspiring Autumn Journal. She met Michael Spender (brother of the poet Stephen Spender) at this time, fell in love. Her second husband was killed in an air crash during the last week of the war.
She took up work as an art teacher, which she continued till 1977.
Nancy Spender"s portrait paintings, still lifes and landscapes were painted in a figurative, realist manner. She exhibited regularly with the London Group and at the Royal Academy of Arts.
After her retirement she increased her output of paintings and etchings. having little interest in commercial sales, she did not have her first solo exhibition until 1979, which was held in a West End gallery run by a friend. Nancy Spender died on 20 June 2001 aged 91.
Two of her portraits are now in the collection of the London"s National Portrait Gallery and another is held at the Sir John Soane"s Museum.