Discover a secret artistic and romantic partnership between a remarkable duo
This exhibition unveils the hidden collaboration between Dorothy Hepworth and Patricia Preece, a romantic duo whose artistic partnership remained a secret for decades. Hepworth, a shy and prolific artist, created paintings exhibited under Preece's name to sustain their shared life. The artistic charade fooled prominent figures, including Roger Fry, Virginia Woolf and Duncan Grant.
Hepworth's modernist paintings, influenced by French Post-Impressionism, showcase vivid colours and bold brushstrokes, capturing the female form with profound contemplation. Archival materials reveal their collaborative approach, while objects document their unconventional life outside the studio, including Preece's marriage to Stanley Spencer, their journeys in Paris, and their later life in Cookham.
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Visitor information
Address
Lewes District Council, Southover House, Southover Road, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1AB
+44 (0)1323 811626
Opening times
Wednesday–Sunday (and Bank Holiday Monday): 10am–5pm
Monday and Tuesday: closed
Exclusions and safety measures
Unlike Charleston's original space in Firle, where the former home of Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant is situated, Charleston in Lewes does not currently offer a National Art Pass benefit.
Visitor information
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