Williams, Florence Elizabeth (1833 - 1915)

Born in London, England, on 17 May, 1833, she died in Bowral, NSW, in 1915.

The eldest of six children of barrister Ralph Thomas and his wife Ann, née Mallett., Williams received some early lessons and encouragement from the famous painter and illustrator John Everett Millais. While still a teenager she exhibited, and sold, her oil paintings at the Royal Academy.

She continued to paint throughout her adulthood and later moved to Australia with her family. She spent many years in Tasmania and in New South Wales where she became a founding member of the Art Society of NSW.

Some of her paintings include easily recognisable Australian native plants.

Residence:

• 17 May 1833 - 1865 London, England, UK
• 1865 - 1867 Penrith, Sydney, NSW
• 1867 - 1873 Farncombe Villa, Godalming, Surrey, England, UK
• 1873 - 1875 New Town, Hobart, TAS
• c.1875 - c.1912 Sydney, NSW
• 1912 - 1915 Bowral, NSW

Source: Extracted from: National Gallery of Australia (NGA) promotional leaflet, 2016; https://www.daao.org.au/bio/florence-elizabeth-williams/ viewed 2016