Beppie loves to paint.
By VANESSA CHIRCOP
WHILE most artists discover their talents at a young age, it wasn’t until Beppie Hedditch retired that she first picked up a paintbrush.
The resident of Altona’s Port Phillip Village said her new found hobby helped her make the transition from her busy working life to retirement, at the same time uncovering a natural talent she never knew she had.
“When I was younger I attended art classes where I drew charcoal artworks but it wasn’t until I retired from my work as a disability case worker that I picked up a paintbrush and tried my hand as an artist again,” she said.
This year Beppie has had a painting accepted into the Sulman Prize Art Competition – which is run by the National Art Gallery of NSW in conjunction with the Archibald Prize.
Her painting, ‘A Melbourne Icon Remembers’, was selected from more than 700 entries to be viewed as part of the exhibition display.
“When I got the phone call to ask if my painting could be viewed as part of the exhibition I was stunned,” she said.
“My daughter and I travelled to Sydney just so we could see it hanging there with the works of many other great artists from around the country.”
The 78-year-old, who paints mostly in oils, specialises in portrait and animal paintings.
“I enjoy painting people mostly, I take photographs and do real life sessions where I can paint different poses and use different lighting.”
Her work that is featured in the art prize depicts a tram conductor, with a heritage Melbourne tram in the background.
“Unfortunately we don’t have conductors anymore, but there’s a group in Melbourne who are lobbying for their return and in the near future I would like to give them my painting to use as they please.”
