Painter Ailsa Small was the daughter of Peter Small an artist and farmer at Pindar near Mullewa, Western Australia. His uncle was a Royal Academician Robert Small who taught him and he in turn taught Ailsa. She attended Presbyterian Ladies College after which she was supported by her father to make her art.
Ailsa exhibited an oil painting Scrub Fire in the Claude Hotchin Art Prize in 1949. Milady gave her a feature article, “Young girl and her art”. She exhibited in the Claude Hotchin Gallery group exhibitions until 1972 and had a solo exhibition in 1965. Ailsa won the Claude Hotchin Prize for oil painting in 1961, 1965 and 1969. Her photo-realist work was very popular. She travelled overseas in 1961 to further her art. Ailsa was so dedicated to her career that she did not marry until 1967.
She and her husband continue to live on the family farm she grew up on. Once her two boys were grown she and her husband were able to travel to paint further afield in Western Australia.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
