Beth Webster, former Fife teacher who became successful artist

The funeral of well-known Kirkcaldy woman Beth Webster has been held after her death following a car accident.

The 81-year-old former art teacher was loved by generations of primary and secondary pupils from schools across the region.

She was also recognised nationally for her own painting and photography, as well as more locally for her sporting passions.

Born in Falkland in 1937, Mrs Webster spent much of her childhood in Crossgates where she attended Foulford School and Beath High School in Cowdenbeath, becoming dux in art.

She went on to study art and design at Edinburgh College of Art and, after graduating, she attended Moray House teacher training college and went on to teach art throughout Fife.

She married husband Gordon in Cowdenbeath in 1959 and they set up home in Glenrothes, having three sons, Leonard, Craig and Derek.

By this time the family was living in Kirkcaldy where Mrs Webster was an involved member of Abbotshall Parish Church, becoming one of the first female elders.

She took up curling, playing with Raith and Abbotshall Ladies and as a skip, and was also a member of Beveridge Park Bowling Club and Carlisle Probus Club.

Mrs Webster stopped teaching at the age of 43 to concentrate on her art professionally.

She quickly received recognition from her peers and became a professional member of the Scottish Society of Artists and Artist Craftsmen, now known as Visual Arts Scotland.

She exhibited regularly in their annual exhibitions at the Royal Scottish Academy on the Mound in Edinburgh and sold paintings at top galleries in Scotland and London.

Later in life, Mrs Webster developed a passion for photography and became a licentiate of the Royal Photographic Society.

She is survived by husband Gordon, her three sons, daughtersin-law Sharon, Georgina and Deanna and granddaughters Claire, Kate, Lawren, Natalie and Audrey.