Beatrice Offor

Beatrice Offor (1864–1920) was a British painter. She is primarily known for portraits, often of an esoteric nature.

Life

Offor was born in 1864 in Sydenham, Kent and trained at the Slade School of Art in London, In 1892 she married William Farran Littler, an artist and sculptor.

Much of her work consisted of representations of heads of young women. A report published in 1907 said that: the famous "Offor Heads" are known the world over. Indeed, it may be said that Miss Beatrice Offor is one of the most popular artists of the day, her pictures are eagerly sought after, and publishers vie with one another for the honour of giving her works to the public. She also painted portraits of Joseph Howard MP and Sir Ralph Littler, KC. She painted a copy of Perugino's Virgin and Child for Tottenham Parish Church.

For some time she was based in Chelsea – the Royal Academy catalogues give an address in the King's Road from 1899 – but following her second marriage A verdict of suicide while of unsound mind was returned at the inquest. She is buried at Brockley and Ladywell Cemeteries.

Public collections Almost 40 of her paintings are held in the collection of the Bruce Castle Museum, Tottenham; they include portraits of young women, local dignitaries, and a woman believed to be the novelist 'Ouida'.

Selected paintings