Nora Heysen was the first woman to win the Archibald Prize and Australia’s first female official war artist. Despite these successes, her artistic career was interrupted by negative feedback from the establishment and by expectations of a woman’s role. The Cruthers Collection of Women’s Art holds three works by Nora – two of which are on display in the Cosmopolitan exhibition at Lawrence Wilson Art Gallery until 7 December.

Sheila donors were fortunate recently to enjoy a fascinating and thought-provoking talk by Anne-Louise Willoughby on Nora Heysen. Anne-Louise has released an insightful and beautifully written biography – Nora Heysen: A Portrait, published by Fremantle Press.