Dora Meeson

Dora Meeson (7 August 1869 – 24 March 1955) was an Australian artist, suffragist, and an elected member of the Royal Institute of Oil Painters in London, England. She was a member of the British Artists' Suffrage League.

Early life and education Dora Meeson was born on 7 August 1869 to Amelia (née Kipling) and John Meeson in Hawthorn, Victoria. Her father, an English schoolmaster, had moved to Melbourne in 1860 and married Amelia Kipling in 1861. He established Hawthorn Grammar School and sold it around 1880 before relocating the family to London. There, he studied law and eventually became a barrister.

In London, the Meeson family then moved to Dunedin, New Zealand c. 1879. It was during this time that Dora Meeson began her artistic career. Also, while studying at the Canterbury College School of Art, Meeson was witness to the suffrage movement and signed the petition which was forwarded to the New Zealand Parliament.

In 1906, Augustus John (with whom she had studied at the Slade) convinced Dora and George to rent a studio at Trafalgar Studios in Chelsea. This marked the beginning of their long stay in Chelsea, where they became part of a vibrant art community that included many Australian artists. Notable figures like Charles Conder and members of the Chelsea Arts Club, such as Tom Roberts, Will Dyson, and George Lambert, frequented Trafalgar Studios.

During their time in Chelsea, Dora attended a suffrage meeting addressed by Emily Pankhurst in another studio within their building, inspiring her to become actively involved in the suffrage movement, while George joined the Men's League for Women's Suffrage. They participated in processions together, and some members of the Chelsea Arts Club affectionately nicknamed them "Coates and Trousers."

In 1909, both of Dora's parents died, which, although a great shock, provided them with a higher degree of financial independence. They established their home and Dora's studio at No. 52 Glebe Place, while George had a spacious studio at No. 55 (later occupied by Australian modernist artist Sidney Nolan) with a connecting door between the two. Dora began painting the Thames, a subject she deeply cherished, in a post-impressionist style.

Meeson and Coates conducted their art careers in England. In 1903 they were employed as illustrators for the Encyclopædia Britannica, together earning six pounds a year. Under the Commonwealth Franchise Act, Australia had already given women the vote in 1902. The inner was also displayed on 17 June 1911 in the Women’s Coronation Procession in London. Meeson also illustrated booklets that were sold to increase visibility for the cause and promote awareness along with Cicely Hamilton, Mary Lowndes, and C. Hedley Charlton. It can be viewed in Parliament House, Canberra.

With the onset of World War I, Meeson helped establish and subsequently participated in the Women's Police Service. thumb

Exhibitions 1992 Heide Museum of Modern Art – Completing the Picture 2013 Castlemaine Art Gallery – 'Shimmering Light' - Dora Meeson and the Thames

Collections Art Gallery of Ballarat Art Gallery of New South Wales Australian War Memorial Benalla Art Gallery Castlemaine Art Museum Christchurch Art Gallery New Zealand Art Gallery of New South Wales Imperial War Museum London Museum of London Docklands National Army Museum Chelsea National Gallery of Australia National Gallery of Victoria National Library of Australia Parliament House Art Collection

Recognition and legacy

A representation of her banner was used on the design of the Australian 2003 dollar coin celebrating the centenary of women's suffrage.

Meeson Street in the Canberra suburb of Chisholm is named in her honour.

Selected works by Dora Meeson