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Eileen Mayo
A Collection of Four Artworks
27th January—7th February 2025
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Eileen Mayo (1906-1994) was an ambitious artist whose work bridged the fine and applied arts across Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. She began her career as a model for some of Britain’s most prominent figures – including Laura Knight and Duncan Grant – and leveraged this role as a springboard to establish herself as a celebrated artist in her own right. This collection of artworks traces her artistic career across three countries and highlights her remarkable versatility across mediums, seamlessly blending fine art with practical design.
Mayo’s vision was deeply rooted in the natural world, with meticulous observation and a focus on patterns. She developed a strong foundation in technical skill and design, excelling in multiple mediums, including painting, linocuts, lithography, tapestry design, and illustration. Her tempera paintings stand out as her finest works; the technique, with its demand for meticulous detail and controlled application, perfectly suited her need for precision, allowing her to create images of exceptional clarity and refinement.
In recognition of her remarkable contributions to the arts, on 1 January 1994, three days before her death, she was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
Eileen Mayo (1906–1994) was an ambitious artist whose work bridged the fine and applied arts across Britain, Australia, and New Zealand.
She began her career in Britain as a model for established artists such as Laura Knight, Dod Procter and Duncan Grant before making a name as an artist in her own right. Her artistic vision was deeply rooted in the natural world, with meticulous observation and a focus on patterns. She developed a strong foundation in technical skill and design, excelling in multiple mediums, including painting, linocuts, lithography, tapestry design, and illustration, seamlessly blending fine art with practical design.
Her relocation to Australia in 1953 marked a prolific phase where she created iconic posters and stamps that celebrated the nation’s unique biodiversity. Her vibrant linocuts, posters, and illustrations captured the essence of native flora and fauna, elevating public appreciation of Australia’s natural heritage and contributing significantly to public art and cultural identity. In New Zealand, she furthered her reputation as a painter, printmaker and stamp designer, pushing the technical boundaries of her craft.
Her teaching and advocacy for accessible art solidified her legacy, bridging the worlds of fine art and practical design. In recognition of her remarkable contributions to the arts, Mayo was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1994.
