Women writers

Margery Allingham

1904-1966
Crime writer and novelist
Sitter in 48 portraits

Victoria Marjorie Harriet Paget (née Manners), Marchioness of Anglesey

1883-1946
Writer and artist; wife of 6th Marquess of Anglesey; daughter of 8th Duke of Rutland
Sitter in 16 portraits

Lady Cynthia Mary Evelyn Asquith (née Charteris)

1887-1960
Author and Private Secretary to JM Barrie; wife of Herbert Asquith; daughter of 11th Earl of Wemyss and March
Sitter in 8 portraits

Diana Athill

1917-2019
Writer and editor
Sitter in 2 portraits

Jane Austen

1775-1817
Novelist
Sitter associated with 6 portraits

Dame Beryl Bainbridge

1932-2010
Novelist and actress
Sitter in 6 portraits

Anna Letitia Barbauld (née Aikin)

1743-1825
Poet and writer
Sitter in 6 portraits

Helen De Vere Beauclerk

1892-1969
Writer
Sitter in 9 portraits

Aphra Behn (née Johnson)

1640-1689
Dramatist, novelist and spy
Sitter associated with 4 portraits

Stella Benson (Mrs Anderson)

1892-1933
Novelist
Sitter in 3 portraits

Mary Berry

1763-1852
Writer
Sitter associated with 9 portraits

Janet (née Philip), Lady Beveridge

1876-1959
Journalist and writer; former wife of David Mair and of 1st Baron Beveridge; daughter of William Philip
Sitter in 2 portraits

Maeve Binchy

1940-2012
Novelist
Sitter in 1 portrait

Malorie Blackman

1962-
Children's writer
Sitter in 2 portraits

Marguerite, Countess of Blessington

1789-1849
Novelist and beauty; wife of 1st Earl of Blessington
Sitter in 9 portraits

Enid Blyton

1897-1968
Children's writer
Sitter in 7 portraits

Anna Eliza Bray (née Kempe)

1790-1883
Novelist
Sitter in 1 portrait

Angela Brazil

1868-1947
Writer
Sitter in 4 portraits

Vera Brittain

1893-1970
Writer, pacifist and feminist
Sitter in 26 portraits

Anne Brontë

1820-1849
Novelist
Sitter in 1 portrait

Emily Brontë

1818-1848
Novelist
Sitter in 3 portraits

Anita Brookner

1928-2016
Novelist and art historian
Sitter in 5 portraits

Brigid Antonia Brophy

1929-1995
Novelist
Sitter in 5 portraits

Elizabeth Barrett Browning

1806-1861
Poet; wife of Robert Browning
Sitter in 7 portraits

Julie Burchill

1959-
Writer
Sitter in 5 portraits

Frances 'Fanny' Burney

1752-1840
Diarist and novelist; daughter of Charles Burney
Sitter in 5 portraits

A.S. Byatt

1936-2023
Novelist, critic and editor
Sitter in 8 portraits

Angela Carter

1940-1992
Novelist and screenwriter
Sitter in 5 portraits

Jung Chang

1952-
Writer
Sitter in 2 portraits

Jeanette ('Jennie') Churchill (née Jerome), Lady Randolph Churchill

1854-1921
Society hostess and writer
Sitter in 25 portraits

Isabel Colegate

1931-2023
Novelist and literary agent
Sitter in 1 portrait

Dinah Maria Craik (née Mulock)

1826-1887
Novelist
Sitter in 7 portraits

Nancy Cunard

1896-1965
Poet and political activist
Sitter in 6 portraits

Rachel Cusk

1967-
Writer
Sitter in 1 portrait

Clemence Dane

1888-1965
Novelist, playwright, screenwriter and artist
Sitter in 14 portraits | Artist of 3 portraits

Caitlin Davies

1964-
Author, journalist and teacher; daughter of Margaret Forster and Hunter Davies
Sitter in 1 portrait

Marie, Marquise de Sévigné (née de Rabutin-Chantal)

1626-1696
Woman of letters
Sitter in 3 portraits

Marie de Solms (née Studholmina-Maria Bonaparte-Wyse, later Madame Ratazzi)

1833-1902
Author, journalist and literary hostess
Sitter associated with 1 portrait

Monica Enid Dickens

1915-1992
Novelist, autobiographer and children's writer
Sitter in 14 portraits

Anne Douglas Sedgwick

1873-1935
Novelist; wife of Basil de Selincourt
Sitter in 8 portraits