Original watercolour

Elizabeth (Betty) Deans Paterson (1894-1970) was an artist, cartoonist and book illustrator, born in Melbourne. The talented and beloved younger sister of Esther Paterson, with whom she often collaborated, one of Paterson's other most notable collaborations was with Australian author Ivan Southall. Together, they worked on several books, including "Ash Road" (1965), which won the Children's Book of the Year Award in 1966. Paterson's distinctive illustrations helped to capture the essence of the stories and engage young readers. In addition to her work as an illustrator, Betty Paterson also had a successful career as a cartoonist. She created comic strips for publications such as The Australian Home Beautiful, The Australian Woman's Mirror, The New Triad, The Australian Women's Weekly and The Bulletin, showcasing her talent for visual storytelling and humor. Picturing a young child in the red desert toasting a lizard over a camp fire - a majestic blue escarpment rising in the distance - this original watercolour is a fine example of an Australian genre she pioneered. Original watercolour, 230 mm x 185 mm, signed 'Betty Paterson' lower right.