Wildflower painter and embroiderer, Violet Easton was born in Perth. Her father was a postmaster and she lived as a child and young adult in Roebourne, Perth, Ora Banda, Gwalia and Coolgardie.
In 1948 she painted a jarrah screen with a bouquet of wildflowers. This was a wedding present to her brother and remains in the family. In 1950 she became the second wife of her childhood sweetheart, whom she had first met when the family lived in Gwalia during World War I. He worked on the railways and they lived in Ravensthorpe, Hopetown and other country places. During this time she filled notebooks with paintings of wildflowers, pressed specimens and notes on their habits and habitat. She designed and embroidered table linen.
Her husband left her in 1960 and she lived in a cottage in Bullsbrook. She was partially supported by her family and earned a meager living painting on wooden artifacts such as bowls for Boans department store and also engaged in china painting. In 1962 for the Empire and Commonwealth Games she mounted a display of her work in an Aherns Department Store window.
Her family hold a number of pieces of her work. These range from oil and watercolour paintings of wildflowers, china painting featuring Geraldton Wax and gum blossom, embroidery and the fire screen.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
