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Alice Bott was born in Brisbane on 23 March 1879, the youngest child of the five boys and two girls born to William Bott (an English engineer) and his wife Sara née Bragg. Nell Bott (qv) was her older sister. Even less is known of Alice’s early career although she received a first prize for wood carving at the Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland, Toowoomba in 1900 and exhibited oil paintings of flowers at the Queensland National Agricultural and Industrial Association in 1915.

Alice and her sister Nell advertised under 'The Birtle Art Work Coy’ in 1923 when they offered hand made pottery, babies woollen goods and “dainty novelties” for sale as well as teaching oil and pastel painting, art needlework and sweet making. In 1924 she first exhibited china painting with the Arts and Crafts Society of Queensland with Miss Amy Young, and continued to exhibit (often with extensive quantities) until 1946. Where she received her instruction is not known as china-painting was not a popular craft in Brisbane. She also exhibited pottery at the Arts and Crafts Society of Queensland in the years 1932-40 together with other craftwork. She exhibited collections of pottery and china painting at the Royal Queensland Art Society 1932-36 as well as at the annual exhibitions of the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association 1924 and 1930-32 where she was awarded several prizes for her work.

She exhibited a collection of pottery or china painting at the second Annual Exhibition of Work by art students of the Central Technical College in December 1933 and also at the third Exhibition in November-December 1934. She may also have exhibited in 1935 and 1936 but the individual exhibitors are not cited. Miss Bott gave a talk on pottery to the Queensland Country Women’s Association Metropolitan Branch in 1930 while her sister and Mrs Julian demonstrated. In 1936 she taught crafts to the Queensland Country Women’s Association Younger Group and the Young Women’s Christian Association.

She was a well-known teacher of pottery and china painting and gave lessons from the studio the sisters built on their home at Kennigo Street, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. Her methods followed that of L. J. Harvey but were more simplified. Florence Archer, Mrs E. L. Harris, Ailsa Lancaster, Dinah McIntyre, Margaret McLean, Pat Prentice, Mary Prosser, Mrs Bruce Shearer and Doris Williams are numbered among her students. She was not as accomplished a potter as her sister Nell and her pieces are usually undated. She died in Brisbane on 22 March 1952.

Queensland Art Gallery: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R. Note: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery

Date written:

2003

Last updated:

2011