Versatile painter, draughtsman and sculptor, mother of the artist Simon Manby. Da Fano’s father was a research doctor, Carrado Da Fano, her mother Dorothea Landau, a painter in the late Pre-Raphaelite manner. Judith was born in Great Missenden, Buckinghamshire, and studied at the Byam Shaw School of Art, 1938–9, with Ernest Jackson, having exhibited at Lucy Wertheim Gallery in 1936, work influenced by a love of ballet. She also studied with the sculptor Judith Wrightson. World War II stalled her decorative studies at the Central School. Had paintings accepted at RA Summer Exhibition from 1945; other mixed venues were to include RP, ROI and NEAC. Moved to the Lake District to farm and run an open studio in 1953. Won a Silver Medal at Paris Salon in 1958, a Gold in 1961; in 1962, HRH Prince Philip bought Farm Scene from RSA; and she had a solo exhibition at Tib Lane Gallery, Manchester, in 1963.