Mabel Hill

Mabel Hill (3 March 1872 – 18 November 1956) was a New Zealand artist.

She was born at Cox's Creek, Auckland, New Zealand, the youngest child of Charles Hill, a hatter, and his wife, Eliza Ann Hulbert. In 1875 the family including Mabel, her brother Alfred Hill and 7 other siblings moved to Wellington, New Zealand. Hill attended primary school but did not attend secondary school. She went directly to the Wellington School of Design to study art in 1886. After time as a pupil of this school she returned as a teacher remaining at the school until 1897. In January 1898 she married John McIndoe, a printer, and moved to Dunedin.

During her time at the Wellington School of Design she met and was heavily influenced by the Scottish artist James M. Nairn. He introduced her to the contemporary art movements of Europe and, in particular, impressionism.

After her move to Dunedin, Hill joined the Otago Art Society exhibiting works under her maiden name while sitting on the Council under her married name. She was supported in her art by her husband who, when building a house in preparation for their marriage, also ensured that a small studio was completed. This space enabled Hill to continue to paint throughout her marriage and birth of four children.

Hill exhibited in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington painting mainly portraits and still lifes including flowers. Gardening was another favourite activity.

After the death of her husband in 1916 she ran his printing business but continued to paint and exhibit. She took private pupils and taught art at Archerfield College from 1922-1925. She illustrated Barbara Douglas's "Pictures in a New Zealand Garden" (1921) and with Alfred Henry O'Keeffe she opened the Barn Studio in the early 1920s.

She travelled extensively after her children left home until the outbreak of the Second World War. In 1925-26 she visited her son Archibald McIndoe in the United States. In 1927-28 she visited both the United States and Tahiti and in 1930 went to Europe. Based in London, she painted with Sydney Lough Thompson at Concarneau, Brittany, and in 1931-32 spent seven months in Capri. She returned to Dunedin in 1935, stayed in London again in 1938, and at the end of the war left New Zealand to settle permanently in England to be near her son Archibald McIndoe.

She died in East Grinstead, Sussex on 18 November, 1956.

List of Works

[http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=35834&coltype=art&regno=1936-0012-76 "Portrait of J.M. Nairn", 1894, watercolour. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa]

External links

* [http://www.dnzb.govt.nz/dnzb/default.asp?Find_Quick.asp?PersonEssay=3H27 Entwisle, Rosemary. 'Hill, Mabel 1872 - 1956'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007]
* [http://mabelhill.net/ Website devoted to the life and work of New Zealand Painter Mabel Hill]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=775964&coltype=photography&regno=o.031086 Photograph of Mabel Hill and her portrait of her son Sir Archibald McIndoe, circa 1950s]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=775963&coltype=photography&regno=o.031085 Photograph of Mabel Hill and Sydney Lough Thompson]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=775965&coltype=photography&regno=o.031087 Photograph of Wellington Art Club exhibition featuring work by Mabel Hill]
* [http://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/objectdetails.aspx?oid=775961&coltype=photography&regno=o.031083 Students at Wellington School of Design]

Persondata
NAME = Hill, Mabel
ALTERNATIVE NAMES = McIndoe, Mabel
SHORT DESCRIPTION = painter
DATE OF BIRTH = 3 March 1872
PLACE OF BIRTH = Auckland, New Zealand
DATE OF DEATH = 18 November 1956
PLACE OF DEATH = East Grinstead, United Kingdom