Mabel Hill
Encyclopedia
Mabel Hill 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.
She was born at Cox's Creek, Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, the youngest child of Charles Hill, a hatter, and his wife, Eliza Ann Hulbert. In 1875 the family including Mabel, her brother Alfred Hill
Alfred Hill
Alfred Francis Hill CMG OBE was an Australian/New Zealand composer, conductor and teacher.-Biography:Alfred Hill was born in Melbourne in 1869. His year of birth is shown in many sources as 1870, but this has now been disproven. He spent most of his early life in New Zealand...
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
James Nairn
James MacLauchlan Nairn was a Glasgow-born painter who strongly influenced New Zealand painting in the late 19th century. He believed in en plein air or painting outdoors....
. 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
Alfred Henry O'Keeffe
Alfred Henry O'Keeffe , was a notable New Zealand artist and art teacher, who spent the majority of his life in Dunedin. During the first quarter of the twentieth century, he was one of the few New Zealand artists to engage with new ideas while staying in New Zealand. At this time most adventurous...
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
Archibald McIndoe
Sir Archibald McIndoe CBE FRCS was a pioneering New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during World War II. He greatly improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew.-Background:...
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
Sydney Lough Thompson
Sydney Lough Thompson was a New Zealand artist.-Family:Sydney Lough Thompson was born in Oxford, Canterbury, New Zealand. He had eight siblings - five brothers and three sisters. His father had come to New Zealand as a young man and ran a general store in Oxford before becoming a sheep farmer...
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
Archibald McIndoe
Sir Archibald McIndoe CBE FRCS was a pioneering New Zealand plastic surgeon who worked for the Royal Air Force during World War II. He greatly improved the treatment and rehabilitation of badly burned aircrew.-Background:...
.
She died in East Grinstead, Sussex on 18 November 1956.
List of works
Portrait of J.M. Nairn, 1894, watercolour. Collection of Museum of New Zealand Te Papa TongarewaExternal links
- Entwisle, Rosemary. 'Hill, Mabel 1872 - 1956'. Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, updated 22 June 2007
- Website devoted to the life and work of New Zealand Painter Mabel Hill
- Photograph of Mabel Hill and her portrait of her son Sir Archibald McIndoe, circa 1950s
- Photograph of Mabel Hill and Sydney Lough Thompson
- Photograph of Wellington Art Club exhibition featuring work by Mabel Hill
- Students at Wellington School of Design
- Items associated with Mabel Hill in the collection of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa