It was in the spring of 1953 that Picasso first caught sight of Sylvette David (Lydia Corbett) from his studio window in rue du Fournas, in Vallauris. He was fascinated by her before they even met although it would be a further year before Picasso asked Sylvette to model for him. With Sylvette as his muse, Picasso turned radiant beauty into art and made some of his finest paintings – later creating an entirely new art form for her;  Sylvette in sheet metal, and later monumental Sylvette sculptures. Picasso’s obsession with Sylvette lasted from the spring of 1953 until the summer of 1954, during which time she had spent many months in his company, modelling for hours each day in the studio.

Yet, though informed by her experience with Picasso, Lydia’s own passion for art began well before their meeting – her French father an art dealer and her English mother a painter of note, sowing in the young Sylvette a sense that making art was as natural as breathing.  This, combined with her natural spirituality imbues her work with deep, invariably joyful, meaning.

In this, Lydia’s largest ever London exhibition, over 250 works including oils, watercolours, ceramics and other 3D pieces will be shown along with a special exhibition personally curated by the artist under the title ‘Love, Peace & Hope’ and an installation piece created by her daughter, Isabel.