Mervyn Angela Jones was born in Brisbane on 6 February 1903. Her father, Captain Mervyn Jones, was responsible for the marine surveying of the New Guinea coast while her mother, Zoe Annie Clara née Pollard, had considerable artistic skills as evidenced by a large painting of Port Moresby dated 1893 (private collection). Consequently, after she completed her schooling, Jones studied at the Central Technical College under Martyn Roberts and L. J. Harvey from 1919 to 1921. (She received Honours for Freehand Drawing I and passes for Modelling I and Design I in 1919.)

Mervyn, together with friends from the college, Misses Hope McKenzie, Enid Morgan Jones and Nancy Wilson, conducted a craft shop, Artcraft Studio, from 1922 to 1939. Miss Jones was the potter of the group and had her own coal-fired kiln (one of the very few in Brisbane) at her home at 'Merrilees’, Tennyson. Glazing and firing was a 'hit or miss’ procedure as she had to learn everything from books. She ceased her association with Artcraft Studio in the early 1930s when her hands became infected and she was not able to continue potting. She exhibited pottery with Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association 1922-24 and, together with watercolours, at the Royal Queensland Art Society in 1932.

Subsequently she gained a considerable reputation for her floral decorations in the foyer of the Wintergarden Theatre, Queen Street which she produced for a period of 14 years. Later Miss Jones became well known as a social announcer for radio 4BC. She died in Brisbane on 7 July 1987.

Queensland Art Gallery: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage

Writers:

Cooke, Glenn R. Note: Research Curator, Queensland Heritage, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane

Date written:

2003

Last updated:

2011