Beth Rich and Sarah Eastlake together with their sister Jill Ramsay have generously donated a portrait of their grandmother Betty Domleo (later Betty Eastlake), as part of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery’s new look permanent collection in the Wilfred Harrison Gallery.

When Edward Joseph Head, artist and teacher, arrived in Tenby in 1894, he was immediately influential in the early careers of both Gwen and Augustus John.

After the siblings left Tenby for the Slade School of Art in London, Head continued to teach his ‘Tenby Art Class’, one of whom is pictured in a photograph, that was posted on social media during the Museum’s closure during the Covid pandemic.

The photograph was of Betty Domleo taken on North Walk in 1911. Betty’s family identified her in the photograph, and contacted the Museum to tell them that Head had painted a portrait of her.

Earlier this year, the Museum’s then curator and one of the volunteers had the privilege of seeing the portrait still hanging on a wall in the family house overlooking Tenby Harbour, and hearing the family’s recollections of their aunt.

Betty’s family have now donated her portrait to the museum, where it will also form part of a future exhibition about the work of Edward Head and his pupils.

As part of the revamp, there will also be some Gwen John work on show, as well as that of Augustus, their mother and others from their artistic circle.

Tenby Museum shared on social media, on Good Friday, the day the venue re-opened: “What a fantastic first day we are having after the extensive refurbishment of Tenby Museum and Art Gallery. It is lovely to once again greet visitors and residents who are keen to see the new-look galleries and exhibitions.

“We also had the privilege of welcoming Sarah Eastlake, Beth Rich, and Jill Ramsay, who came this morning to view the E. J. Head oil painting of their relative, Betty Domleo (later Betty Eastlake).

“Their kind gift of this beautiful art work is a wonderful addition to the permanent collection.”

All the social history works at the venue, will also be added to the main gallery downstairs.

After four months of extensive refurbishment, your new-look Tenby Museum and Art Gallery is now ready to welcome residents and visitors back into this historic building situated on Castle Hill.

Head along and explore the Iron Age artefacts in the Geology and Archaeology Gallery, sit and marvel at Gwen and Augustus John's artworks, and travel through time in the ‘Story of Tenby’ exhibition.

Last year, it was announced that Tenby Museum and Art Gallery was among 29 cultural sites benefiting from £3m Welsh Government funding for facility enhancements.

Money from the funding will go towards the project ‘A Fine Ship to Sail: The Future of Tenby Museum & Art Gallery’.

The funding has allowed for improvements and renovation to the building, such as:

• Solar panels being connected;

• New double-glazed windows;

• New and accessible storage created;

• Display areas re-painted;

• Exterior painting of the building and new signage.

For more information onTenby Museum and Art Gallery, and its opening times, please head to the Museum’s website at: https://tenbymuseum.org.uk