Mort, Eirene, 1879-1977

Artist. Eirene Mort undertook art and craft studies at schools in England on two overseas trips she made in 1897 and 1909. On her return to Australia Mort exhibited her own work and became a founder of the Society of Arts and Crafts of New South Wales. She was vice-president until 1935. She was also involved in the Australian Exhibition of Women's Work in 1907. As an art teacher Mort was principal of the Women Painters' Art School and taught at various girls' schools including Kambala and Frensham, Mittagong. In 1921 she was a founder and council member of the Australian Painter-Etchers' Society. Mort was also a member of the Australian Bookplate Club and a founder of the Australian Guild of Handicrafts. As an author and illustrator, she contributed to Art and architecture, wrote books about Australian fauna and flora for children, and published a book of sketches titled The old roads (1931), and, The story of architecture (1942). Mort died at Bowral, New South Wales in 1977.