Full_Joan_Eardley_Press_Review

The pair would meet up regularly in Catterline, where Ms Eardley would pose for photographs for her companion, many of which are featured in the new book.

In one of the letters to the photographer, Ms Eardley states: “I just feel I love you so much – and there just ain’t words – to say it – not words that mean what I feel inside of me – and there’s nothing else that I really want to say – nothing at all...”

In another letter, she says: “Can you wait until the middle of next week for me to come back? Can I? That’s also to be thought about.”

In her own tribute, Mrs Walker writes: “If anyone ever has a mind to write, many years from now, a book dealing with Joan the person, as well as Eardley the Painter, I feel somehow they should have, sort of germinating in some remote corner of their mind, the conception of the whole Joan.”

Mr Andreae, who said he had spent several years compiling the book, told The Scotsman: “I would say the letters from Joan to Audrey are affectionate, sweet, gentle and very intimate. They indicate a very close friendship indeed and I think it’s very obvious that she was in love with this woman. It is also clear from the tribute from Audrey that she very much worshipped Joan.

“I think their relationship would have been known to Joan’s close friends, but it’s never been written about at all. The letters were embargoed by Audrey until long after her death.”

Guy Peploe, director of the Scottish Gallery, hosting an exhibition of Ms Eardley’s work from 3-27 April, said: “She’s up there in terms of the female artists Scotland produced.”