Stories of life

Stories of Life

Stories of life is the website of Jo Oliver, children’s author and illustrator, writer of biographies and recorder of life stories. Explore the pages of the site to find out more about Jo’s books, talks and life stories.

Biographies

Jessie Traill: a biography

This biography explores the remarkable life of Jessie Traill – artist, traveller, humanitarian and independent spirit. From the ten-year-old who first met Tom Roberts painting on the shores of Port Phillip Bay, to a student of Frederick McCubbin and etchers John Mather and Frank Brangwyn, Jessie developed her professional skills. She also became one of Australia’s most outstanding etchers, working in a field uncommon for women of her time. Through diary extracts, descriptions of her world travels and personal letters we hear her voice and see through her eyes, beauty, humour and the joys of simple living.

Adelaide Perry artist & teacher

Adelaide Perry was part of the Modernist art movement in Australia and one of the innovative women printmakers between the wars. This biography explores her life and work over a period when the lives of women changed radically.

Adelaide studied at the National Gallery School in Melbourne and won the travelling scholarship in 1920 to study at the Royal Academy of Art in London. She drew, painted and exhibited her work all her life. She taught firstly at Julian Aston’s Sydney School of Art before establishing the Adelaide Perry School of Drawing and Painting where she mentored a number of significant Australian artists. Adelaide taught at the girl’s school, Presbyterian Ladies’ College Sydney for over thirty years and positively influenced many young women.

The Adelaide Perry Gallery has been named in her honour and holds the prestigious Adelaide Perry Prize for Drawing each year continuing the legacy of this remarkable Australian woman artist and teacher.