Violet McAdoo facts for kids

Annie Florence Violet McAdoo (born 1900, died 1961) was a talented artist from Ulster. She was known for her beautiful watercolour and landscape paintings. Annie also studied at the famous Royal College of Art and was a teacher for many years. She even served as a secretary for the Ulster Academy of Arts.

Her Journey as an Artist

Annie McAdoo was born in 1900 in Cookstown, a town in County Tyrone. She was the only daughter of Hugh Weir McAdoo, who owned a fabric shop, and his wife Marion Jones. Annie went to the Ladies' School in Cookstown for her general education.

She then went on to study art at the Belfast School of Art. After that, she graduated from the important Royal College of Art in 1927. Annie then came back to Northern Ireland. She taught art for many years at Princess Gardens School in South Belfast. She continued teaching there until she retired.

Annie was a member of the Belfast Art Society. She started showing her artwork with them in 1925. She kept showing her paintings almost every year until she passed away. This was with the groups that came after the Belfast Art Society, like the Ulster Academy and the Royal Ulster Academy.

She was also a member of the Water Colour Society of Ireland. There, she showed 39 of her artworks between 1946 and 1960. In 1943, her work was part of an exhibition called Living Irish Artists. This show was supported by CEMA, which helped promote arts. She also showed her work in another exhibition with fourteen other local watercolour painters.

In 1944, Annie had a special art show with another artist, Olive Henry. This show was at the Belfast Museum and Art Gallery. Annie showed her watercolours, while Olive Henry showed both oil paintings and watercolours. Most of their pictures were of landscapes, but some showed city scenes too. A newspaper reviewer said Annie's work was "...vivid and strong, and she goes in more for heavy dark colours."

In 1946, the Council for the Encouragement of Music and the Arts bought artworks from fourteen artists, including Annie McAdoo. Other artists whose work was bought included Colin Middleton and Romeo Toogood. In 1950, Annie joined her friend Olive Henry at a big art show in London. Her watercolour was one of 550 artworks chosen for the National Society of Painters, Sculptors and Engravers exhibition.

Annie's art was also shown at the first exhibition for past students and staff of the Belfast College of Art in 1954. Her work was displayed alongside famous artists like T P Flanagan, Colin Middleton, and Basil Blackshaw.

Annie McAdoo was one of four vice-presidents of the Ulster Academy of Arts. Later, she became an Associate member there. In 1954, she also showed her art in London with the United Society of Artists. She was also a member of the National Society and the Society of Women Artists.

Remembering Annie McAdoo

Annie McAdoo passed away in Belfast City Hospital on 22 November 1961. She never married and did not have any children. The Royal Ulster Academy showed four of her paintings in their yearly exhibition in 1962, after she had passed away.

In her will, Annie left money to several charities. She also left five hundred pounds to the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.

Annie McAdoo's paintings are kept in many private homes and public collections. You can find her work in places like the Ulster Museum and the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts.