June Mendoza (1924 – 2024)

June Mendoza, working as Chris Garvey, was one of the artists who collaborated with George Beardmore on Belle of the Ballet, George’s popular comic strip for Girl. In 1979 on ‘Desert Island Discs ‘ she recalled: “I took over from that marvelous artist, John Worsley. He used to do ‘Belle of the Ballet’, and I took it over from him. I drew Belle for about three years. Heaven help me. What a solid hard job that was!”

June went on to become, according to her obituary in The Times, the doyenne of portrait painters. Among her many famous subjects were Royalty: Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and Prime Ministers: Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

June was made an officer of the Order of Australia (AO), and in 2004 was awarded the OBE for services to the Arts. She was a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and an Honorary Member of the Society of Women Artists. She was elected a Member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in 1966 and served on the Council for many years. In 2024 June was made a Fellow of the Institute (FROI) for her outstanding service to the society.