A lifetime of works by Bettina Shaw-Lawrence, one of the principal members of the Cedric Morris-taught Benton End Group, will go under the hammer at Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers on 22nd October. Included in the collection is a pencil drawing of Lucian Freud which has been previously unseen by the public.
Shaw-Lawrence, who was in a clandestine relationship with Freud which lasted from the 1940s until the 1970s, was during her heyday one of Europe’s most celebrated female artists. She trained in Paris under Fernand Leger and Ossip Zadkine and belonged to the wartime creative circle including Lucian Freud, David Kentish, David Gasocyne and others, and exhibited in London, Paris and New York. Her portrait of David Kentish is currently in the National Portrait Gallery.
The archive of works to be offered at Cheffins includes some 74 lots, including paintings, drawings, folios and even two portrait busts. Uncovered by Bettina Shaw-Lawrence’s grandson, this is the largest body of her works to have come to the open market to date, with landscapes, cityscapes, self-portraits and a number of floral and animal studies included.
One of the highlights is a pencil drawing of Lucian Freud, naked, from the rear, which is set to sell for between £700 and £1,000. Also included is a still life of ‘Benton Menace’ orchids, the famous flowers bred by Cedric Morris which is set to make between £200 and £400 and a self-portrait from her time at Benton End.
Gabrielle Downie, Associate at Cheffins who is handling the sale comments: “Bettina Shaw-Lawrence was a force of nature. Unlike her male peers, she wasn’t able to pursue the life of an artist, rather she had to split her time between child-rearing and creating, particularly as she was a single mother. There were so many moments in her life where she turned her back on conformity; she moved to Paris alone as a teenager, travelled widely, divorced two men and only had one child. Her archive is a fascinating insight into her colourful life and her connections to Lucian Freud, Cedric Morris and some of the largest characters in 20th century modern British art. The collection is diverse, all fresh to market, having come directly from the family. There is very little scholarship on Bettina Shaw-Lawrence, but as a female artist and one whose talent was very much appreciated by her contemporaries, it is a particularly exciting time to offer it to the market.”
It was during his time travelling with Bettina Shaw-Lawrence and Nigel Macdonald, a contemporary of the pair, in Scotland where Freud created some of his most well-known works, including ‘Loch Ness from Drumnadrochit.’ During the same trip, Bettina Shaw-Lawrence drew a portrait of Nigel Macdonald, the same sitter as Freud’s famous ‘Tired Boy,’ which has an estimate of £300 - £500. In addition, a 1974-dated self-portrait by Bettina Shaw-Lawrence is titled ‘After Lucien’s Show at the Hayward Gal.’ is offered as part of the collection.
Gabrielle Downie continues: “The Benton End Group has been seeing renewed interest in recent years with prices steadily rising by works not only from the most famous exports of the art school but also some of the lesser-known members such as Lucy Harwood and Joan Warburton. Bettina Shaw-Lawrence’s work has an incredible vivacity and having seen the full archive, it is of no surprise that she was able to fully-support herself from her art, even if she did retire from the public eye. She was a real trailblazer, and I hope that this sale gives her the recognition as an artist which she so deserves.”
The archive will go on view at Cheffins Fine Art Auctioneers in Cambridge on Sunday 18th October, ahead of being offered for sale on the 22nd October 2026.
Auction: The Art & Design Sale – 22nd October 2026.
Location: Cheffins, Clifton House, 1-2 Clifton Road, Cambridge, UK, CB1 7EA
For further information contact the Fine Art Department on 01223 213343, [email protected]
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For further media information, please contact Sophie Richardson, PR Manager at Cheffins,
t: 01223 271990, e: [email protected], www.cheffins.co.uk