History

Margaret Stoddart was a famous local water colourist who was born in Diamond Harbour in 1865, educated in Edinburgh and studied at Canterbury School of Art. She was best known for her watercolours of flowers, many of which were painted in her favourite colours, blue and white.


Her work has been exhibited at the Canterbury School of Arts and other societies, the Royal Academy and the Paris Salon. After returning to New Zealand in 1907, she taught at the Canterbury School of Art and was a leading member of the Christchurch art community.