Design and Art Australia Online

Painter and teacher in Bunbury. She was the youngest daughter of Edward Flaherty of Irish extraction who farmed at Picton and his wife Ester Allison. Flaherty was a student at Perth Technical School under J. W. R. Linton. She exhibited with the West Australian Society of Arts in 1922 and 1923. Her exhibits in 1922 were two portraits in oils and watercolour studies of heads.

Flaherty was listed under 'Teachers of Painting & Artists’ in Wise’s Post Office Directory 1924. In 1927 her exhibits were watercolours and pastel landscapes of “Leschenaultia”, “Ferguson River” and a “Bush Road”. Described by a relative as “Every inch a lady, she resembled a Dresden China figurine. With her white hair, blue eyes and delicately made-up countenance, her air of breeding, old-world charm and large brimmed hat she seemed to be of another age. In her youth she must have been very pretty.”

Flaherty was one of a number of country girls who came to Perth and boarded to go to the Technical School and then went home and opened art schools. In 1939 she was listed under artists in Wise’s Post Office Directory. In 1950 she was still active exhibiting watercolours Templetonia Retusa and Residency Point, Albany in the Art Competition at Art Gallery of Western Australia. A sketch of hers is held by the J. S. Battye Library of West Australian History.

Writers:

Dr Dorothy Erickson

Date written:

2010

Last updated:

2011