Meston was a sign writer and painter who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland. He immigrated to New Zealand in 1884 where he was apprenticed to a sign writer. He came to the goldfields in Western Australia in 1887. By 1901 he was in partnership in Perth off 245 Murray Street as Meston & Walters “Signwriters and Decorative Artists, William Street: Glass gilders and embossers, calico signs, designs and estimates, banners, illuminated addresses, scenic artists, cottage plates, monograms, house painting and paperhanging.” This firm continued until Meston’s death in 1936.
Meston was largely self-taught as an artist. He joined the West Australian Society of Arts in 1898 and remained a member until 1933, exhibiting regularly. He was President of the Society between 1924-1927. His oil painting Harvest Otago New Zealand was admired at the 1898 exhibition: “[t]he horses are well drawn and the colouring and technique are masterful, save the sudden change to the cold distance, which is inclined to be harsh as well.” Meston also exhibited regularly with Phillip Goatcher in the exhibition room under the Town Hall. In 1922 he exhibited a set of six 'autolithographs’. He exhibited nine watercolours as well as two oils in 1926. In 1930 his The Reward was exhibited with some smaller paintings. A 1932 watercolour is in the collection of the J. S. Battye Library of Western Australian History.
- Writers:
- Dr Dorothy Erickson
- Date written:
- 2010
- Last updated:
- 2011
