Mollie Steven

Born Astrid Mary Davies in Lower Hutt, Steven grew up in the Wairarapa but attended high school at Nelson College for Girls, then went on to study at the Christchurch Teachers’ Training College and then the Ilam School of Fine Arts at the University of Canterbury, graduating in 1931.

In 1939 she visited Canada and America, visiting art centres in Canada and United States under the guidance of Dr Arthur Lismer, Professor of Fine Arts Columbia University ; studying the painting and crafts of North American Indians for seven months (including one month in New Mexico),

In 1940, when she had 'not long ago returned from America', she performed a puppet show as part of the ‘Mannequin Parade’ at Nelson College for Girls, having made the marionettes and 'stage properties' herself. The show was such a hit that it enjoyed a well-received repeat performance, and went on to be performed at a Correspondence School social evening, and the Christmas Party of the Wellington branch of the Nelson College Old Girls' Association in 1941.

She spent two years working on the East Cape as an area organiser with the Department of Education, during which time she studied Māori design.

In 1950 she travelled to England to further her studies, visiting New York on the way. In London she studied Textile Design at the Hammersmith School of Art, then went on to study with Peter Lanyon and William Redgrave at St Peter's Loft, St Ives, Cornwall in 1955 and 1959. While in Europe, she undertook further trips to Paris and Madrid.

In 1951, one of her textile designs with a Māori motif was produced by the leading British fabric-maker Ziki Ascher. The design had been based on drawings by a kuia, Mrs Henri Sherratt, of Te Awamutu.

Back in Aotearoa New Zealand, Stevens married and settled in Timaru for some years, where she continued to practice her art, exhibiting in the Hay's Ltd. Art Competition (1962 & 1963); the Ascher Award Exhibition (1966); and with The Group, Christchurch, as ‘Mrs A M Steven’. She also held solo exhibitions at Bett-Duncan Gallery in Wellington, and with the Canterbury Society of Art (1968).

She was a member of the South Canterbury Art Society from 1963–1970 (intermittently), and also belonged to an independent group of artists who studied in one another's homes, including Vivian Lynn, Gypsy Poulston, Ruth Millar, Pat Rowell, Cliff Brunsden and Morgan Jones. In 1966 the group exhibited as “Seven South Canterbury Artists” at the Dunedin Public Art Gallery. The Timaru Herald quoted “T.E.” of Dunedin describing the exhibition ”... as the strongest and most interesting collection of work to come out of Timaru in my memory.” (4 June 1966).

She left Timaru in 1972, settling in Naenae, Te Awakairangi Lower Hutt, and exhibiting with the Academy of Fine Arts, Wellington, between 1975—1982. She published at least one children’s book “William Weka, The Wily One” (1972), and held positions as Assistant Education Officer for the Auckland Museum, and was sole-charge teacher at Pakawau country school, on the way to Farewell Spit.

She passed away in Lower Hutt in 1999.

See also:

• Steven, Mollie (Find NZ Artists database)
• Astrid Mary (Molly)Steven: South Canterbury Artists: a retrospective view (Aigantighe Art Gallery in association with the South Canterbury Arts Society: 1990; digitised by Te Puna o Waiwhetū Christchurch Art Gallery), p.46
• Source of Maori Fabric Design in U.K. Found, The Press, 23 Dec 1964, p.2