Elizabeth Wallwork

Elizabeth Wallwork (née Donaldson; 20 July 1883 – 4 June 1969) was a New Zealand artist.

Early life

Born Elizabeth Donaldson on 20 July 1883, in Broughton, England, she was the sixth of nine children of Elizabeth Ann Hibbert and John Donaldson.

In 1911 she moved to New Zealand with her husband, fellow artist, Richard Wallwork, after he was offered position of life master at the Canterbury College School of Art, Christchurch.

Education

Wallwork studied at Manchester School of Art (previously Municipal School of Art) and at the Slade School of Fine Art in London, receiving two first-class certificates in drawing and in painting in 1907–1908. She was awarded the Lady Whitworth Scholarship.

Career

Wallwork was known as one of the foremost exponents of pastel portraiture in New Zealand. She also painted in oil and exhibited landscapes.

While in England Wallwork exhibited with Manchester and Liverpool Art Galleries, and the Salon in Paris. In New Zealand she exhibited with several art societies including:

• Auckland Society of Arts
• Canterbury Society of Arts
• New Zealand Academy of Fine Arts
• Otago Art Society

Her work was included in the:

• British Empire Exhibition, London, 1924
• New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, Dunedin, 1925–1926
• New Zealand Centennial Exhibition of 1940

Work by Wallwork can be found in the collections of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu.

References

Further reading

Artist files for Wallwork are held at:

• Robert and Barbara Stewart Library and Archives, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu
• Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hākena
• Te Aka Matua Research Library, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

Also see:

• Concise Dictionary of New Zealand Artists McGahey, Kate (2000) Gilt Edge
• Nineteenth Century New Zealand Artists: A Guide and Handbook Platts, Una (1980) Avon Fine Prints