Famous Names From Mystery Artist
Because until recently, not even the experts knew a lot about her.
Yet, 70 years after they were produced, 50 of the originals of her advertising posters from the art deco age are the talk of collectors in north Wales.
They are also among pieces being auctioned on Saturday in Colwyn Bay, including works by Sir Kyffin Williams.
David Rogers-Jones, of auctioneers Rogers-Jones and Co, said despite working to promote famous brands in the 1930s, such as Dunlop, MG Cars, Great Western ailways and Fyffe's Bananas, "incredibly very little is known about the artist herself."
The artist spent most of her life in Bontuchel, Denbighshire, but her work is from a period before then.
Mr Rogers-Jones added: "Judging by her high-profile commissions, she must have been extremely well thought of at the time, but after the war she seems to have been totally forgotten about.
"The posters on sale were bequeathed to her friends and neighbours in Bontuchel after her death, and as far as we can make out, this is the first time they've seen the light of day in 70 years."
It is thought that she studied at Liverpool Art College some time during the late 1920s or early 1930s. A 1931 certificate from the Royal Drawing Society is among the lots on sale on Saturday.
After that it seems she went to London to work at an exclusive fashion house. Dresses in the royal collection, made for Princess Marina and Queen Mary during the period bear her name as designer.
This must also have been her most successful time as a graphic designer in advertising. However, in the middle of the 1930s, seemingly at the height of her career, she left to live in the Netherlands.
Williamson herself said little publicly about the period in later life.
"We have a body of work stretching from 1931 through to roughly 1936, though it would appear nothing after that," said Mr Rogers-Jones.
"This would seem to correspond with when her neighbours say she mentioned moving to the Netherlands. However, why she went, and why she didn't continue drawing is somewhat of a mystery, I'm afraid."
After the outbreak of World War II, the details of her life become clearer.
In 1939 she returned home to Ruthin, where she spent the war years working as a logger, operating the crane which can be seen to this day outside of Ruthin Craft Centre.
October 25, 2009
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