Margaret Gurney (artist) facts for kids

Margaret Jane Gurney is a talented Australian artist. She lives and works in Melbourne and is a strong supporter of Australian art. She even represented Australia at a big art show called the Florence Biennale in 2009! Margaret was one of the first women to work as a graphic artist in Australian television. She was also one of the first women to be an art director in advertising in Australia.

Margaret has also worked a lot as a teacher and manager in community arts. She has run art programs for adults. She opened her own art studio in Melbourne and has been painting full-time for many years.

Early Life and Learning

Margaret Jane Gurney was born in Melbourne, Australia. Her father was Alex Gurney, a famous Australian war artist. He created the well-known Bluey and Curley cartoon. Margaret's mother was Junee Gurney.

Margaret had three older brothers and sisters: John, Jennifer, and Susan.

She went to several schools:

• Elsternwick State School
• Methodist Ladies' College, Elsternwick
• Swinburne Technical College: Here, she earned a Certificate in Art and a Diploma of Advertising Art.
• Phillip Institute of Technology: She received a Post Graduate Diploma in Community Education and Development.

Margaret won awards for her art while she was a student. In 1958, she won the Drawing Prize at MLC. In 1963, she won a class prize at Swinburne.

School Plays and Revues

Margaret also enjoyed acting when she was a student. At Methodist Ladies' College, she played the main character, Concha Puerto, in the school play The Women Have Their Way in 1959.

At Swinburne Technical College, she had important roles in the college's first two student revues. These were In the Pink (1962) and Get Well Soon (1963).

Margaret Gurney's Career

After finishing her studies at Swinburne, Margaret worked at two small advertising agencies. She was a graphic artist and worked in advertising marketing from 1964 to 1966.

Then, she worked as a graphic artist at Channel O in Melbourne from 1966 to 1967. After that, she became a television art director at George Patterson's advertising agency from 1967 to 1969.

Margaret has been an artist since her time at Swinburne. Her art has been shown in solo and group exhibitions both in Australia and around the world. She proudly represented Australia at the Florence Biennale in 2009. After setting up her own studio, she has focused on painting full-time for many years.

She is also an active member of several art groups in Melbourne. These include the Melbourne Society of Women Painters and Sculptors, the Victorian Artists Society, and the Contemporary Art Society.

Teaching and Community Art

Margaret Gurney has spent a lot of time working as an educator and manager in community arts. She has also managed art programs for adults.

In 1979, she started lecturing art and design students at the Phillip Institute in Melbourne. This experience made her very interested in teaching art, both in formal classes and in less formal settings. This interest has stayed with her ever since.

Preserving Her Father's Art

Besides her own art, Margaret Gurney has worked hard to keep her father's artistic legacy alive. Her father was the famous cartoonist Alex Gurney.

In 2007, thanks to Margaret, a large collection of Alex Gurney's papers and artworks was given to the State Library of Victoria. This helped make sure his important work would be preserved for future generations.

Awards and Recognition

Margaret Gurney has received several awards for her artistic talent:

• 2005: Melbourne Savage Club Invitation Art Prize for Painting
• 2007: The Kenneth Jack Memorial Drawing Award (Australian Guild of Realist Artists): She was the very first winner of this award.
• 2014: The Constance Wu Award (Melbourne Women Painters and Sculptors Society Artist of the Year)
• 2018: Fellowship Award (Victorian Artists' Society)

Personal Life

Margaret Gurney married cinematographer Alan Charles Weatherley on April 8, 1967. They had two children together.

Works by Margaret Gurney

• Gurney, M., My Dad: Alex Gurney 1902-1955, Margaret Gurney, (Black Rock), 2006.
• Roennfeldt, M.J. (ed.), Gurney, M. (illustrator), Drama in Action for Secondary Schools: Book III, (Melbourne), Thomas Nelson, 1969.