Design and Art Australia Online

Personal

Ernest Edwin Abbott was born in Bideford, Devon, UK, in 1889, son of Charles Edwin Abbott and Sarah Ann C. Abbott, née Passmore. Ernest’s father was an upholsterer, like his father (William) before him. Ernest had three siblings, all younger, Violet, Reginald, and Olive.

In 1911, as 'Ernest Abbott, Ironmonger’, he apparently emigrated alone to Western Australia on the ship Tainui , which left London on 02 March 1911 and Plymouth on 04 March 1911.

In 1913 he married Florence Radcliffe Olde, collar worker, in Perth, Western Australia. Florence was born in Bideford in 1888, daughter of Reginald W. Olde, tailor, and Sarah, née Redcliff. At age twenty-three, Florence came to Australia, leaving London on the P & O steamship Beltana on 28 November 1912 for Adelaide, South Australia, arriving in 1913. As both Edward and Florence came from Bideford, it seems probable that she came out to marry him. They had two sons, Reginald Douglas Abbott and Kenneth John Abbott. Later the family moved to Melbourne, Victoria. They appear on Electoral Rolls in 1919 and 1924 for Kooyong, Victoria, subdivision Kew, as living at 106 Pakington Street, Kew; he is described as an artist. The 1936 Electoral Rolls show them in Henty, Brighton, Victoria, subdivision Sandringham, living in Bay View Crescent. They finally moved to what is now the Melbourne suburb of Black Rock, at 59 Bayview Crescent. Florence Abbott died in 1970, after fifty-six years of marriage. Abbott died in Black Rock on 13 January 1973, aged eighty-four.

Career

Abbott was largely self-taught. After leaving school he worked as a signwriter, and migrated to Western Australia in 1910, later moving to South Australia. He taught art at Stott’s in South Australia for four years. In 1920 he moved with his family to Melbourne, where he took a studio in Oxford Chambers at 475 Bourke Street. He also built a studio at his home in Black Rock. In about 1920 or 1930 he took up dry-point etching, and gave up his city studio to concentrate on printmaking at his home. Abbott made his own engraving tools, and printed his images on a flat-plate press. His print runs were usually limited to only fifty or seventy-five copies. He signed his work “Ernest E. Abbott” or “E.E. Abbott”.

Abbott is best known for italglio prints, and also painted watercolours and some oils. He made etchings of a variety of Australian subjects, including the outback and the colleges of the University of Melbourne. His watercolours and pastels depict Egyptian, Australian and English scenery.

Abbott does not appear to have joined an art society, nor to have any exhibitions during his lifetime. A retrospective exhibition was held in 1993. He sold his works by three or four agents, rather than art dealers, to private collectors in Australia, England and the USA. David Bell, a travelling salesman, sold Abbott’s work in Australian cities, country towns and outback stations.

Writers:

Rost, Fred

Date written:

2009

Last updated:

2011