She also rejected being described as the artist’s “muse”.
“I hate that word because I imagine a very thin little person you know, all in love and wafting around in chiffon dresses, pining for the artist which wasn’t me, I have to say,” she said.
Tilley said her involvement in Freud’s work came about by chance and that, despite the painting’s global profile, her life by the sea remained largely unchanged.
Most of the time, she said, her days were “very mundane”.
“I lie around watching telly, going down the beach, sit in the sun, chit-chat, chat to my friends, and then out of the blue suddenly something really bizarre happens and I’m all busy for about a week and it’s all over,” she added.
The sale coincided with Hastings Contemporary’s new exhibition, external on Henry Moore and Lucian Freud.
The event includes Woman with an Arm Tattoo, an etching depicting Sue Tilley, and runs until 13 September.
Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, external, X, external, and Instagram, external and listen to BBC Radio Sussex on Sounds. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk, external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
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