Ellen Brown Workman (1882 - 1973), Dancer at Night

A beautiful young dancer on a lit stage at night. The light seems to radiate from her, leaving just glowing dots for the surrounding faces. The audience in the foreground, dressed in dark, heavy clothes,don't seem all that interested. We look over them, where the dancer, alone in the spotlight, stands on her toes in glorious white.

Ellen Brown Workman (later McCready) (1882-1973) studied at the Glasgow School of Art, and first exhibited with the Society of Women Artists in 1901 and at the Royal Academy, London, in 1903. She studied in Paris at the studio of James McNeill Whistler. In the 1920s and 1930s she exhibited several pieces at the Paris Salon and the Fine Art Society in London. She exhibited at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin between 1927 and 1930.

After her marriage, her surname changed to McCready, and she seems to have used the name 'Nellie' more than Ellen. She spent most of her adult life in Belfast.

Watercolour on paper. 45 x 30 cm. Signed on reverse, along with a Glasgow School of Art stamp (not visible). Newly framed with archival mount.

Like most of the artworks on this website, this piece is on display in our Clare Street shop.