painter, photographer, garden designer, theatrical designer and producer, was born in Perth. She came to Sydney with her family in 1924, where she practised photography with her twin sister, Jean. (Jean Ramsay won a prize in a photographic competition conducted by Home in 1931.) The two subsequently became involved with the Turramurra Wall Painters. Together they painted murals from 'top to toe’ on the bedroom walls of their home, Oakwoods, at 17 Water Street, Turramurra, and won a prize for 'Reproduction of existing mural panel’ in a special exhibition held by the Sydney Society of Artists in 1929. Both were pupils of their cousin, Roy de Maistre , and both exhibited with the Contemporary Group in 1932. Several of Gwen’s painting are extant (private collections).

Gwen Ramsay married Tommy Brooke in the mid-1930s and lived in India and England. In India she was very involved with stage production and design for the Mannar Club. In England she was instrumental in persuading Sir John Rothenstein to donate de Maistre’s colour wheels, charts and colour exercises to the Art Gallery of NSW.

Writers:

Johnson, Heather

Date written:

1995

Last updated:

2011