THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 10, 1995 TAG: 9508080081
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: CLOSEUP
SOURCE: VICKI LEWIS
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
As a child, she spent her summers on a farm in Nova Scotia, Canada, a place that she likes to return to today as a vacation spot. But Norfolk resident Beth Benson grew up in New York, where her father worked in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Benson has lived in Norfolk since she was 17, and has owned and operated The Art Works Gallery, 321 W. Bute St., for 17 years.
She is also a medical illustrator on the side and illustrates training videos for Operation Smile. Although she doesn't have a medical background, Benson did get a rating as a medical illustrator when she graduated from college.
Benson became involved with Operation Smile while doing business with some of the doctors involved in the organization through her gallery and framing business. Through her work as a medical illustrator, she said she has gotten to meet many prominent doctors in the plastic surgery field.
Name: Beth Benson.
Nickname: B.B.
What brought you to Norfolk: My father was an industrial specialist with the Department of the Navy. He was moved here when I was 17 years old.
Birthplace: Nova Scotia, Canada - a dairy farm.
Birthdate: July 15, 1951.
Occupation: Art gallery director/moonlight as a medical illustrator for Operation Smile.
Marital status: Divorced.
Children: 1 - Frank, age 19. In college at Maryland Institute College of Art, Baltimore.
Last book read: ``The Burden of Desire'' by Robert NcNeil and ``The Celestine Prophecy.''
Favorite movie: ``The Unbearable Lightness of Being.''
Favorite magazine: Time.
If you could trade places for just one day with anyone in the world, who would it be and why? Hugh Grant's girlfriend. She appears to have everything.
Biggest accomplishment: Recuperating from a broken vertebrae from a horseback riding accident while running two art galleries/frame shops and single-parenting a 10-year-old son.
Most embarrassing moment: In Manhattan, getting caught in my underwear at age 16 while applying for a runway modeling job at an evening gown company. I was very shy and I was sure the manager did it on purpose. Also, he said, ``We'll call you.''
If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I would be more social in my time away from work, my energy would never quit.
Perfect way to spend the day: Sitting in a European cafe, say Bruges, Belgium, with people I care about and good wine. Or I could walk my dog at the Hermitage.
Favorite vacation spot: Back to my roots, Cremona Farm in Nova Scotia, the rocky beaches, lobster and salmon.
Pet peeve: Visible aesthetic environmental pollution - billboards to beer cans and factory framing, which includes animal abuse and wantonly uses up our natural resources unnecessarily.
First job: Fashion illustrator/copywriter for creatives services for the Richmond newspapers.
Worst job: At 16, lunch counter server in the middle of a discount store to be near high school crush who worked in auto parts.
Hobbies: Roller blading, yoga, gallery hopping, wine appreciation, renovating my house.
Favorite restaurant: The Dumbwater, here, and The Memphis in New York.
What do you like most about Norfolk? The lovely genteel community of established people who are delightful to deal with as a business owner.
What do you like least about Norfolk? No Nordstroms, no Macy's - but that may be changing. Also the conservatism in art tastes - this may be changing slowly also. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
by CNB