DAVID Hockney’s sister revealed she inspired his later work using technology, as she launched her autobiography today.

Margaret Hockney, 82, discusses her youth in Bradford as the only girl among four boys, including the famous artist, and her difficult relationship with her mother Laura in her book.

She worked as a nurse and midwife in the UK, including at St Luke’s Hospital in Bradford, and in Africa and Australia.

But while she was Down Under, she said she felt hounded by her mother’s constant letters wanting news. This led to Miss Hockney having a nervous breakdown which included suicidal episodes.

She was in hospital for almost nine months, which saw her undergo insulin shock treatment and electro-convulsive therapy, and went on to make a complete recovery.

She said it was not until her mother’s death in 1999, that she felt she could be herself.

She said she had a computer delivered on the same day her mother died and quickly used the internet for her work.

Miss Hockney, who now lives in North Yorkshire and is deaf, then went on to teach her famous brother how to use a scanner for his work.

She also encouraged him to experiment with digital cameras and using Photoshop.

Miss Hockney unveiled her autobiography, My Mother is not Your Mother, at an event held at Salts Mill, Saltaire, today, which was hosted by former Telegraph & Argus reporter Jim Greenhalf.

She said all of her brothers, including David, bought iPhones and used an art app on them, which inspired his more recent work using an iPad.

She said: “David was interested in what I was doing with my computer and was intrigued by my scanning.

“I sent an email copy of my book to all of my brothers and asked them for a foreword. David wrote a bit of a page for this.”

MORE TOP STORIES Miss Hockney added: “I was thinking before I wrote it, should I include my problems with my mother?

“I am glad I have done it and pleased with my book.

“I greatly admired my mother, but I realised what a strange power my mother had on me. I could not be my true self while my mother was around.”

My Mother is not Your Mother is available exclusively from Salts Mill or online at saltsmillshop.co.uk, priced £14.99.