Olga Davenport (1915-2008)

Olga Davenport was a key figure in the 20th Century British art scene; she was an accomplished artist, a collector, and friend to many British post-war artists. Davenport's early career as an actress began on the stage and her work also included leading roles in film, television and radio. However, she gave up her acting career to take up painting full-time, studying at Chelsea Polytechnic, Royal College of Art and also Peter Lanyon's School in St Ives. In St Ives, Davenport was to meet and befriend some of the greatest British artists of the 20th Century and during her life she acquired important paintings for her own collection, including works by Patrick Heron, Roger Hilton, William Scott and Terry Frost (see lot 15).