Sperrey, Eleanor Catherine (1862–1893)

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Sperrey, Eleanor Catherine (1862–1893)

New Zealand artist. Name variations: Eleanor Catherine Mair, E. K. Mair. Born Eleanor Catherine Sperrey, Jan 7, 1862, in Victoria, Australia; died April 23, 1893, in Belheim, New Zealand; dau. of John Sperrey (timber merchant) and Eleanor (Maunder) Sperrey; m. Gilbert Mair, 1888; children: 1 son, 1 daughter.

Arrived in New Zealand with family (1863); studied portraiture in Rome, Paris and London (1881–82); returned to New Zealand (1884) and established studio (1886); painted numerous prominent political figures and Maori subjects; after marriage, signed paintings, E. K. Mair.

See also Dictionary of New Zealand Biography (Vol. 2).