Barbara Tate

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} thumb|right|Barbara Tate in 2009 '''Barbara Tate''' (2 June 1927 – 12 November 2009) was a British artist and writer, perhaps best known for her bestselling book ''West End Girls'', which was published shortly after her death.<ref name=Tate>[http://www.barbaratate.co.uk/ Barbara Tate's official website]</ref>

==Career in Art== Born in Uxbridge as '''Barbara June Peddle''', her father Charles Jonathan Peddle (1895-1961) was a carpenter and lorry-driver. A violent man, he once tied a noose around her neck when she was aged 3 and balanced her on her toes until she was rescued hours later when her mother came home. Abandoned soon after by her mother Elsie Irene, née Williams (1904–1973), she was brought up by her maternal grandparents. In 1944 aged 17 she won a scholarship to Ealing School of Art.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

In 1972 Tate became a member of the Society of Women Artists (SWA). She was the organisation's President from 1985 to 2000 and later became an Honorary President. The SWA bestows the Barbara Tate Award annually in her memory.<ref>[http://www.society-women-artists.org.uk/awards/274-barbara-tate-award-shelia-vaughan.html Barbara Tate Award] on the Society of Women Artists website</ref> Her paintings were awarded gold and silver medals from the Paris Salon and the Grand Prix de la Cote d'Azur.<ref name=Orion/> She was also a member of the Society of Botanical Artists and the Royal Society of British Artists.<ref name=Express/> In 1993 she was appointed an Honorary Professor of Thames Valley University.<ref name=Tate/> She married fellow artist James Tate in 1951 and had one daughter.<ref name=Orion>{{Cite web |url=https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781409116066 |title=Biographical notes on The Orion Publishing Group website |access-date=2014-06-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140602195711/https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781409116066 |archive-date=2014-06-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==West End Girls== Her book ''West End Girls'' (2010) outlined her life as maid from 1948 to 1950 to Fayn Nicholson<ref>[http://www.thesohosociety.org.uk/soho_clarion/PDFs/Soho_Clarion_18.pdf 'Storms, Fire and Flood' - ''Soho Clarion'' No 18 January-February 1978] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304025051/http://www.thesohosociety.org.uk/soho_clarion/PDFs/Soho_Clarion_18.pdf |date=March 4, 2016 }}</ref> (1918-1977) ('Mae Roberts' in the book), a prostitute in London's then notorious Soho district. Nicholson/Roberts was murdered by being burned to death in her London flat in 1977.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The manuscript was actually completed in 1977 but Tate withheld publication for 32 years believing her former occupation might embarrass her family.<ref name=Express>[http://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/books/189959/Review-West-End-Girls-Barbara-Tate Review of ''West End Girls''] in the ''Daily Express'' 30 July 2010</ref> The book became ''The Times'' Bestseller. In 2012 it was also adapted into the play ''West End Girls'' by Circa Theatre in New Zealand.<ref>[http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/West-End-Girls ''West End Girls'' on the Circa Theatre website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605052725/http://www.circa.co.nz/site/Shows/West-End-Girls |date=June 5, 2014 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.theatreview.org.nz/reviews/review.php?id=5022 ''West End Girls'' reviewed on the ''Theatre Review'' website - 6 August 2012]</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[http://www.barbaratate.co.uk/painting-menu/fine-art-gallery/53-fine-art-gallery.html The Barbara Tate Gallery] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140605051528/http://www.islingtontribune.com/reviews/books/2010/aug/books-review-west-end-girls-barbara-tate Review of ''West End Girls''] - the ''Islington Tribune'', 19 August 2010

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tate, Barbara}} Category:1927 births Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century English painters Category:Academics of the University of West London Category:English non-fiction writers Category:English autobiographers Category:Members of the Royal Society of British Artists Category:English women autobiographers Category:20th-century English women painters