Norma Bull

Norma Catherine Bull (7 September 1906 – September 1980) was an Australian painter, printmaker and etcher, best known for the paintings and sketches she made in Britain during World War II.

Early life Bull was born and grew up in Melbourne, where her father was the director of bacteriology at Melbourne University In 1932, she graduated from the National Gallery of Victoria Art School, having won numerous prizes and scholarships during her time as a student. In 1934, she sold two works to the Melbourne Art Gallery and, in the same year, the poet John Masefield agreed to sit for her whilst visiting Melbourne. The resulting etched portrait was shown at the Royal Academy in 1940. As well as bomb damage in Bath and Bristol, her wartime subjects included Chelsea Pensioners, children helping with the harvest and searchlights illuminating St Paul's Cathedral on the night of V-E Day.

Three of Bull's painting, including one of the bomb damage to the Temple Church in London, were purchased by the WAAC for between eight and ten guineas each. A similar exhibition of Bull's work, entitled Great Britain in Wartime, toured Australia for several years after the war.

Later life After the war, Bull returned to Australia where she continued her career as an artist. She spent twelve months travelling around the country with Wirth's Circus, painting scenes of circus life. She then returned to Melbourne to live in her childhood home, Medlow, in Surrey Hills.