Sister Wendy Beckett emerged as an unlikely television phenomenon during the 1990s.

Despite spending much of her existence as a recluse in a caravan in Norfolk, this spectacled nun became a familiar face across the nation through her BBC arts programmes that enthralled millions.

Yet, despite achieving worldwide recognition and acclaim, she died in 2018 with no personal fortune, opting instead to give her earnings to worthy causes.

Born on 25 February 1930 in Johannesburg, South Africa, Wendy Mary Beckett was the daughter of a doctor.

In 1954, she obtained a teaching qualification from Notre Dame College of Education in Liverpool before heading back to South Africa.

There, she taught English and Latin at convent schools in Cape Town and Johannesburg, subsequently lecturing at the University of the Witwatersrand.

By 1970, medical problems compelled Beckett to step away from teaching. With Vatican permission, she departed the Notre Dame order and became a consecrated virgin and hermit, moving back to England.

She first lived in a caravan and subsequently in a compact mobile home on the estate of the Carmelite Monastery at Quidenham, Norfolk.

A chance meeting would soon transform her life. After a film crew overheard her observations at an exhibition, they asked to film her discussing art.

This resulted in the BBC commissioning her debut programme, Sister Wendy's Odyssey, in 1992. To the surprise of all - herself included - she demonstrated a remarkable talent before the cameras.

Her follow-up series, Sister Wendy's Grand Tour (1994), saw her traverse Europe, exploring the continent's most prestigious galleries and artistic masterpieces.

By the late 1990s, she had emerged as one of the BBC's most distinguished presenters. At the height of her fame, her shows attracted a quarter of British television viewers.

Her American television debut came in 1997 with Sister Wendy's American Collection on PBS, leading The New York Times to describe her as "the most unlikely and famous art critic in the history of television."

Despite her considerable success, Beckett never abandoned her solitary way of life. She would emerge for filming obligations but always retreated to her caravan, where she lived simply.

Her daily schedule incorporated up to seven hours of prayer, and she rarely watched cinema or explored museums outside her work commitments, remaining devoted to her vows of poverty.

All income generated from her television and literary work was given to the Carmelite order that offered her refuge.

Sister Wendy died on 26 December 2018 at the Carmelite Monastery in Quidenham, Norfolk, aged 88.

The order announced her passing, noting that she had lived on their property for almost 50 years, although she was never officially a member of the Carmelite community.

She authored more than 25 books, covering everything from art critique to spiritual reflections, and fronted a dozen major documentaries.

She became renowned for her frank conversations about nudity and sexuality in art, maintaining that there was nothing shameful about honouring the human form as part of God's creation.

Her observations could be remarkably direct - but they were always delivered with respect and wonder.