With the Westcountry as her inspiration, it is no surprise that Devon based artist Becky Bettesworth has so many places she wants to capture on canvas.   Inspired by the classic 1930s railway posters, she began designing her place specific pictures in 2013 and has since seen her work snapped up for sale by shops and galleries across the South West.

It all started when she exhibited at Greenway, which was the home of Agatha Christie and is now a National Trust Property.  Becky did a series of prints of Greenway and straight away the National Trust shop wanted them for sale to the public.

We asked Becky last April if she would be willing to let us use her Thurlestone print for our new Trevilder Restaurant and we were so delighted when she agreed.   Becky was also delighted that her print was being used by “such a fantastic hotel” in her beloved South Devon.

We have now produced a free bespoke postcard for all our customers at the hotel using this stunning artwork.   The postcard is a wonderful way to send holiday wishes or love back to your family or friends whilst enjoying your stay on the South Devon coast.   Receiving a postcard through the post is such a lovely thing and in a world of emails and electronic messaging there is something quite delightful in receiving good old fashioned post.   Of course, you can just keep the postcard for yourself as a momento and reminder of your time at the Hotel!

Becky’s artwork is created by using a modern silk screen process on the computer.  Becky said “Many of the old railway posters were done by silk screen and I do the same using a computer to build up the layers to produce a flat image, using block colours.  I am a real purist and I want the image to have the characteristics and charm of the original bygone images of the past”.

Becky’s work is mostly based on the places that she loves to visit with her three children, husband and golden retriever Squiggle.   She takes photos and then sketches and draws her designs.  She then builds them up on the computer.  Becky said “I like to come up with a unique picture that sums up a place.  The angles and features may well be exaggerated and distorted to fit the composition, which is vital to get right at the start.   I use a lot of artistic interpretation and it is the use of colour which really makes the pictures come to life”.

Becky’s portfolio of pictures is constantly growing, she takes private commission work and is extending her range of images out of the South West.  Becky said “I get requests everyday to do images of other parts of the country and over seas.   I feel blessed and grateful to live in the Westcountry and look forward to launching new images.

Becky’s artwork can be purchased direct from her website at www.beckybettesworth.co.uk