Amateur painter Margaret Abbott was the younger daughter of Arthur Abbott and Alexandra Mary Rutherford and sister of Valentine Abbott of Mount Street, Perth who attended St Mary’s Anglican School for girls graduating in 1923 and winning a prize for swimming. Her sister Heather married an Englishman so the family travelled regularly between the countries. She sailed for UK in 1929 with her parents to attend the wedding of neighbour Muriel Saw. She studied painting with Margaret Saunders at the Perth School of Art in 1931 being described as a promising student. She also exhibited with the WA Society of Arts in 1931 in the Industries Hall in Barrack Street. Her work was described by the critic George Benson as “distinctly modern”. She travelled to England regularly leaving in 1932, 1934 and again in 1936. She was involved in the girl guide movement becoming Commissioner for Brownies. She also learnt to fly and belonged to the Aero Club of which her brother was president and was also a member of the Hunt Club. In February 1937 she left for England returning in June 1939. Once home she was appointed by the Red Cross as a lecturer in air-raid precautions. Her social life appears to have been too full for any more painting but she continued with the guides. In 1940 she left for Victoria to marry Clyde Henry Swinson Vise. They had three children.
- Writers:
-
erickd
- Date written:
- 2014
- Last updated:
- 2014
