Berthe Des Clayes

Artist Bio: Berthe Des Clayes, ARCA (1977-1968)

Berthe Des Clayes was born at Aberdeen, Scotland. Known for her Impressionist-style landscapes, the eldest of the three Des Clayes sisters traveled between Montreal and England throughout her life. Her early studies took place at the Bushey School of Art in England (Herkomer School) and the Académie Julian in Paris where she studied under Tony Robert-Fleury and Jules Lefebvre. After living in London for six years (1906-12), she settled in Montreal in 1912. She spent a year traveling in England and France (1919-20). Des Clayes then settled in Chorleywood, England until 1931, when she returned to Montreal where she lived until 1951. Bertha returned to England and died there in 1968. A versatile artist, she worked in pastel, as well as in oils, watercolours and won the prestigious Jessie Dow Prize twice. One of her landscapes and two Nova Scotia harbour scenes can be found in the collection of the National Gallery of Canada.