Kate Ethel Cowderoy, 1875–1972
She was born in Brixton, London and attended the Herkomer Art School in Bushey in 1899. Prior to World War I, Cowderoy travelled extensively in France, Germany and Belgium. She exhibited portraits at The Royal Academy of Arts, Paris Salon and Walker Art Gallery. She later turned to miniature portraits often painted on ivory. She was probably Herkomer's last surviving student and her work was reproduced in postcard format for companies like Raphael Tuck. Her studio collection - around 200 paintings, including many portrait miniatures - is housed at the Bushey Museum and Art Gallery and other examples of her work are in the collection of Watford Museum. The Cowderoy family settled in Bushey and Kate became one of a circle of artists celebrated with an exhibition by the Bushey Museum Trust in 1988.
Sources: Bushey Museum; Artist Biographies Ltd.
