Floris Gillespie facts for kids

Floris Mary Gillespie (1882–1967) was a talented Scottish artist. She was known for her beautiful watercolour paintings. Floris also worked as a teacher, sharing her love for art with others.

Meet Floris Gillespie

Floris Gillespie was born in 1882 in a place called Bonnybridge in Stirlingshire, Scotland. She came from a family where art was very important. Her brother, Alexander Bryson Gillespie, and her sister, Janetta, also became artists. Sometimes, all three siblings would show their artwork together in exhibitions!

Becoming an Artist and Teacher

Floris studied art at the famous Glasgow School of Art from 1913 to 1915. After finishing her studies, she became a teacher at Stranraer High School. This allowed her to inspire young minds while continuing her own artistic journey.

Her Art and Achievements

Floris Gillespie loved to paint many different things. She mostly created pictures of flowers and still life compositions. A still life is a painting of objects that don't move, like a bowl of fruit or a vase of flowers. She also painted landscapes, which are pictures of outdoor scenes. She used both oil paints and watercolours for her artworks.

Floris was a very active artist. In 1928, she joined the Glasgow Society of Women Artists. This was a group that supported women artists. She even won a special prize from them, called the Lauder Award, in 1948. Her paintings were also shown at important art events. These included exhibitions by the Royal Scottish Academy and the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society. She regularly showed her work at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts too.

Floris lived most of her life in her hometown of Bonnybridge. She passed away in Edinburgh in 1967. Her beautiful paintings continue to be a part of Scotland's art history.