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Beatrice was born to George and Emma Offor on the 21st march 1864 at Peak Hill Villa, Sydenham, Kent. She was one of ten children, amongst them, governesses, music professors, and a brother in the Tea Industry emigrated to Australia where he settled and married. Beatrice’s father lived to well over 100 years old.
In 1882 Beatrice attended the Slade School of Art , studying “Fine Art and Fine Art Anatomy”. The Slade is now part of the London University. The school was one of the most important English Art Schools of the late 19th century. Renowned for it curriculum, based on the French system of art education. It was also the first English Art School to give students opportunities to study from the life model. Along the male students, women were also given the opportunity to study art on equal terms. The Slade had been founded by Felix Slade in 1871, a wealthy art collector from Yorkshire. The first professor of art at Slade was Edward Poynter, who was replaced in 1876 by Alphonse Legros until 1892. Beatrice befriended a Mona Bergson, and Annie Horniman (Horniman Tea Heiress). They shared a studio together on Fitzroy Road, London. Many artists lived in this area and were nick named the Fitzrovians.. Mona later married S.L.MacGregor Mathers, and took the name of Moina Mathers. They established the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn. This influence can be seen in a couple of Beatrice’s paintings in particular, one title the “Crystal Gazer” The other untitled, but showing a dark haired woman in robes holding a golden goblet with a snake wound around the stem. Beatrice had come from a very strict Baptist family, and wonder what kind of reaction her family would have had to this Esoteric Order!!!
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