As PART of Bellmans Winchester October Timed Online Interiors Auction, for sale will be a collection of paintings by Judy Strafford.

A local Winchester artist and illustrator, known for her Tamworth pigs book The Pig Tales.

Judy was also recognized for her love of sprouts, brightly coloured cashmere jumpers and pink & orange lipstick.

Judy’s early career evolved from painting famous actors, including James Robertson Justice, Kenneth Moore and Dirk Bogarde, to becoming known for painting rural Hampshire scenes, especially in watercolour, of the Itchen Valley and surrounding area.

Born in Brighton, Judy studied at Brighton College of Art. In 1956, she married Derek Howard, and they had three children. After settling in Twyford, Hampshire, Judy learnt and gained a passion for cookery.

During this time, her love of bright vibrant colours became evident. Judy used a singer sewing machine, creating vibrant collages of sequin silk flowers and botanical subjects and a nativity scene, later published as a Christmas card; she painted in oils on board, including yellow and orange Daffodils; deep Prussian blues and rich red monotones of rural summer and autumnal scenes.

Judy later married Tom Enfield who became the 8th Earl of Strafford and Judy, the Countess of Strafford. During this period traditional pen and ink illustrations with colour washes became her distinctive style. With the launch of the JS Design Co, Judy published greeting cards of her ink and watercolor illustrations of Winchester and well-known landmarks. At this time, she rekindled her love of flowers, botanic illustration and collage, publishing cards of intricate botanical composition in ink and watercolour.

Bellmans are honoured to be offering part of her studio for sale in their Winchester saleroom. Works include scenes from Hampshire.