“My Garden,” Mary Vickers, 1974 hand-painted etching, 18x20 in., signed and marked Artist’s Proof.

A rare early Artist’s Proof of Mary Vickers’ 1974 hand-painted etching My Garden, this work beautifully expresses her signature Romantic style through a serene depiction of a woman tending flowers beneath a wide-brimmed hat. Rich in delicate linework and softly textured etching tones, this piece demonstrates Vickers’ mastery of figurative printmaking during her most collectible period. A highly desirable impression for collectors of Romantic figurative art, hand-colored etchings, and early Vickers works.

Artwork Description

My Garden (1974) is an intimate, tender, and quintessentially Romantic etching by Mary Vickers, rendered in warm sepia tones with subtle hand-applied coloration. The scene depicts a graceful woman bending gently toward a cluster of flowers, her patterned dress and wide-brimmed hat evoking a nostalgic, pastoral charm. Vickers’ signature sensitivity to gesture and emotional atmosphere is fully present here: the bowed head, the flowing silhouette, and the softness of the composition all radiate a quiet reverence for nature and the peaceful rituals of daily life.

Executed as an original intaglio print, the image was created by Vickers drawing directly into a prepared etching plate, which was then acid-bitten to form the rich textures seen in the foliage and fabric. As an Artist’s Proof, this impression predates the numbered edition and was either kept by the artist or used during the printing process for color and tonal reference. The delicately hand-painted enhancements—seen in the subtle tonal shifts and floral accents—reflect Vickers’ longstanding practice of tinting her etchings to heighten emotional warmth.

The work exemplifies the traits that define Vickers’ early printmaking: expressive linework, Romantic figurative storytelling, and a profound appreciation for love, beauty, and tranquility. Signed lower right, titled at center, and inscribed “Artist’s Proof” lower left, this is a rare and highly collectible example from the pivotal 1970s period of her career.

Artist Biography

MARY VICKERS — BIOGRAPHY (British/American, born early 1940s)

Mary Vickers is a British-born Romantic figurative artist celebrated for her emotionally expressive portraits, tender human themes, and richly decorative hand-colored etchings. Born in the early 1940s in a small village outside London, Vickers demonstrated exceptional artistic sensitivity from childhood, particularly in capturing the subtle emotional states of the human face. Her early environment—rooted in the English countryside and shaped by London's museum culture—formed the basis of her lifelong commitment to portraying love, intimacy, and the beauty of human connection.

Vickers studied at the S.E. Essex School of Art and the prestigious St. Martin’s School of Art, where Romantic and Pre-Raphaelite influences became central to her style. After relocating to the United States, she continued advanced studies at the Art Students League of New York and the Pratt Institute Graphic Center, where she discovered original printmaking. In 1969, she shifted decisively into etching and lithography, developing a distinctive method of combining delicately rendered faces with richly textured, hand-tinted surfaces. Her editions were intentionally small, and each piece was individually enhanced with color to heighten emotional resonance.

During the 1970s, Vickers rose to international acclaim, exhibiting widely in New York, Chicago, Paris, Puerto Rico, and throughout the United States. Her work entered the collections of Sarah Churchill, the Duke & Duchess of Marlborough, Peggy Lipton, Robert Alda, Leonardo Nierman, and many others. Her global reputation expanded as her paintings were reproduced by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons and distributed by The Bradford Exchange, who described her as “one of the leading Romantic painters of our time.”

MARY VICKERS — BIOGRAPHY (British/American, born early 1940s)
Mary Vickers is a British-born Romantic figurative artist renowned for her emotionally expressive portraits, tender narratives, and richly detailed hand-colored and tonal etchings. Born in the early 1940s outside London, she displayed a natural talent for capturing emotion early in life, shaped by rural English surroundings and deep engagement with London’s museums, where Romantic and Pre-Raphaelite ideals deeply influenced her developing style.

Vickers trained at the S.E. Essex School of Art and St. Martin’s School of Art, later continuing advanced studies at the Art Students League of New York and the Graphic Center at Pratt Institute, where her discovery of original printmaking transformed her artistic direction. Beginning in 1969, she developed a signature technique combining delicately rendered faces, expressive cross-hatching, and richly textured backgrounds—often enhanced by hand coloring.

Throughout the 1970s she achieved widespread acclaim, exhibiting internationally in New York, Chicago, Paris, Puerto Rico, and across the U.S. Her work entered notable private collections, including those of Sarah Churchill, the Duke & Duchess of Marlborough, Robert Alda, Leonardo Nierman, and Peggy Lipton. Her paintings were later reproduced by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons and distributed globally by The Bradford Exchange, who described her as “one of the leading Romantic painters of our time.”

Her prints remain staples in vintage fine art collections and continue to be exhibited in private galleries globally. The involvement of Mitch Morse Gallery ensures clear provenance and secure attribution for collectors.Vickers’ exhibitions spanned New York, Chicago, Paris, Puerto Rico, and London, and her collectors include Sarah Churchill, Peggy Lipton, Leonardo Nierman, and the Duke & Duchess of Marlborough. Her artwork was also reproduced by Josiah Wedgwood & Sons and The Bradford Exchange, which praised her as one of the leading Romantic painters of her time.

Dedicated to portraying love, beauty, and emotional truth, Vickers’ art is grounded in her belief that a piece is not complete until it finds a viewer who loves it. Now believed to be retired, her original etchings from the late 1960s through the 1970s remain the most collectible works of her career.

Her art is grounded in the belief that beauty and love are inseparable, and her subjects—lovers, children, families, and gentle domestic moments—reflect her dedication to emotional sincerity. Today, Vickers is believed to be alive but retired, with her early etchings from the 1969–1979 period considered the most collectible examples of her work.

Mary Vickers (British/American, b. early 1940s)
My Garden, 1974. Hand-painted etching on paper, 18 x 20 in. Signed, titled, and inscribed “Artist’s Proof.” Warm-toned Romantic figurative etching from the artist’s most desirable early period. Rare AP impression.

CERTIFICATE OF VALUE & AUTHENTICATION
Artist: Mary Vickers
Title:My Garden
Date: 1974
Medium: Hand-Painted Etching
Dimensions: 18 x 20 inches
Edition: Artist’s Proof (AP)
Signature: Signed lower right; titled center; inscribed “Artist’s Proof”
Provenance: Acquired in New York City; Artfind Gallery, Washington DC
Authenticity: Verified original hand-painted etching created from the artist’s plate and individually hand-finished.
Condition: Excellent
Estimated Market Value: See ranges below
Issued By: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC

Provenance Chain

1. Artist: Mary Vickers

2. Acquired: New York City

3. Private Collection: NYC

4. Current Owner: Artfind Gallery, Washington DC