Betty's Back!: The work of James and Betty Durden

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Betty's Back!: The work of James and Betty Durden will be a 1920s extravaganza, centred around the return of star paintings of Betty Durden Green by James Durden, after being away for conservation reasons. Supported by funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Betty's Back! will explore James's life and works in the context of the 1920s, when the portrait was painted, and will also reveal artwork by Betty Durden Green for the first time.

The Museum will be displaying its complete James Durden collection, and the exhibition will feature loans from private collections. Two paintings on loan from the Durden family show local scenes of Millbeck, where James lived for many years.

James painted his iconic portraits of his daughter, Betty, during the 1920s and they capture the spirit of the Jazz Age. The exhibition will explore the paintings in the context of the time, and give visitors the full Roaring 20s experience with Charleston dance lessons in the gallery, dressing up, and a range of 1920s-inspired craft activities.