Perhaps the old stage adage about not performing with children or animals should be revised to include nonagenarian artists.  During his speech at the recent opening of 94 year old Betsey Linton's exhibition Ted Snell was upstaged in the nicest possible way by the artist.  In response to his remarks about her prolific output and her longevity, Linton, eye atwinkle, interjected with "It's the pure life I lead!"  With this she temporarily hijacked the opening and beguiled her audience with entertaining comments revealing clarity of mind and a lively sense of humour.

If sales and gallery attendance alone were the only criteria for judging this remarkable exhibition then it has already been a resounding success.  But Linton's work, while it has remained conventional, reveals the thoroughness of her early training and her continued practice as an artist over the ensuing decades.  Her work shows a range of approaches over the 75 year span covered by this exhibition; from the muted low-key tones of her earlier work, to the vibrancy of her later oil pastels and the lyrical atmospheric light of her more recent watercolours.

The studied approach to Hovea Landscape (1975) is indicative of some of her early work.  Her more recent watercolours, such as Afternoon at Scarborough (1998) demonstrate a hazy, Impressionistic quality reflecting a freer style not seen in her earlier work.  Sunny/cloudy skies are obviously a favourite subject, often and skilfully demonstrated in her land and seascape watercolours.  The later oil pastels reflect a use of vibrant colour, richly worked to create a paint-like patina as seen in East Guilford (1995)

The majority of the work exhibited, mostly landscapes and flower studies, has been completed in the last two decades, a testimony to the energy and artistic commitment of this still alert and remarkable woman.  The inclusion of some of the artist's work in last year's centenary exhibition, There Was a Presence, at the Mundaring Arts Centre was a catalyst for Linton's first solo exhibition.  Spurred on by this artistic and financial success, Linton completed about a quarter of the exhibited works since the previous showing.
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Born Betsey Currie in Fremantle in 1905, Linton's long and varied life as an artist began with her enrolment at Perth Technical College at the age of 17.  James Walter Robert Linton soon became her principal teacher, instructing her in painting, enamelling, silversmithing and craftwork.  This was the beginning of an enduring artistic and personal relationship, rather unconventional at the time, which lasted until J.W.R. Linton's death in 1947.  Later Linton's younger brother, Kitch Currie, came to live with her at 'Hovea'.  They remain a close pair, having travelled, worked and lived together ever since.

Linton's career has also encompassed working in a city tearooms run by the family, conducting life drawing classes with fellow students Hal Missingham and Jamie Linton, and teaching at Perth Technical College, Fremantle Prison and Midland Technical School.  After her retirement in 1969, Linton and her brother travelled extensively within Australia and overseas in Europe, China, America and Morocco.