A little known but very talented London based painter. Something of a prodigy she enrolled at Clapham School of Art at 14. A scholarship took her to the Royal College of Art in the 1940s where one of her tutors was the great, quiet master, Professor Carel Weight whose influence dominates this painting. The American film actor Edward G Robinson, a notable connoisseur and collector of his day, bought one of her paintings, to which Copley’s response was – ‘I think he was very drunk when he bought my work’.
Only the second painting by this artist I have ever owned although I expect as her star rises more will appear. She sold regularly in public exhibitions, including the Royal Academy Summer exhibitions, for many years so there must be hundreds out there somewhere!
Modern British Painting 
Hello…my grandmother told me the story about Edward G Robinson, she never quite understood why anyone would buy her work. She was remarkable, as was my grandfather (Christopher Chamberlain). I have all of those paintings you believe to be out there. There are hundreds and I am keen to get them on walls, so please contact me if you are interested in viewing them. Esther Johnson, Heather Copley’s granddaughter.
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Hello Esther, I’d forgotten I had even started this site! – I’m still very keen to talk about showing the work – subject to seeing it of course – I keep missing you by phone, I have a feeling you were getting married and possibly I had an old work mobile for you? Any way best way to contact me is at the gallery on enquiries@panterandhall.com (sounds general but it does come through to me) or call me when you have a moment on 0207 399 9999 and we can make a plan, Best Matthew
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