"Thus Shall Evolve the Language of the Future" (Mina Loy)

Becky comes from an artistic and literary background. She studied art in the early seventies but got diverted by literature and, latterly, the social development of adolescents. The research undertaken as part of her MA reconnected her to her own adolescence and its influences.

She is a published poet and performs her poetry locally. She was highly commended for “Last offices’ Torbay Poetry Festival National Competition in 2018 and her anthology ‘Nick’s Gift’ was published in October 2019. Becky also runs Stanza Extravaganza spoken word monthly evening in Torquay Devon at the Artizan Gallery  and is a member of Torbay Culture Board.

Becky exhibits her artwork and is a UNESCO English Riviera Ambassador Artist. Her work follows the themes:

Art of the School: Influence of religious dogma on childhood, adolescence and feminism and an emerging female artist in the Seventies’

Family Tree: Referencing the objects, places and influences in her past, and rituals.

Past and present, that influence the future.

Becky paints mainly in acrylic but she also uses mixed media including parts of her original childhood and art student works which are collaged into paintings. Works with a reference to religious iconography replicate the paintings in convent schools. In her work Becky sometimes includes works by her father and children to show the artistic tradition that runs through her family. Her father, Peter Draper, owned Milton Head Pottery, Brixham, Devon UK from 1950 -59 and became a successful playwright and screenwriter. He was a founder member of The Devon Guild of Craftsmen. Becky curated two Milton Head Pottery exhibitions with Torbay Libraries. She has curated exhibitions in South Devon in collaboration with Artizan Gallery Torquay.

‘The Anchorhold – 1971’ was selected and sold at The Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2021
Her work “Bedroom shrine to the virgin of the rocks” was shortlisted for the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2017 and highly recommended alternative or mixed media in the show - Torbay Guild of Artists 2018. Also, Best alternative/mixed media and best painting in show for ‘St Peter Chanel of the Staffroom’ Torbay Guild of Artists 2018

"The Dictionary of Received Ideas" is a satirical encyclopedia written by Gustave Flaubert. It lampoons the accepted and commonplace wisdoms in nineteenth century French society. A schoolgirl reads it in the shadow of religious dogma represented by the statue of Mary and Jesus.

Collage Mixed Media on Wood

52x46cm

Framed