Gertrude Bodinnar

1879—1966 The daughter of John Mathews Bodinnar, a cooper, and Ann Crews Bodinnar (nee Curnow), Gertrude was the eighth of ten children and was Cornish-born. Her first contact with art was as a model that included posing for her future husband Harold HARVEY, and the experience fascinated her. She made notes of how the painters worked, and she discovered in herself a talent for art and design. She and Harold later married in about 1911. Gertrude used mostly oil on canvas, board, card or paper, but also tempera, gouache and sketches (sold at NAG), and also enjoyed needlework and clothing design. In the 1920s and 30s she exhibited her work at various galleries in London, including the RA and the Leicester Galleries. Often she showed work together with her husband in mixed and group shows. Her style has been likened to Alethea GARSTIN's. Prior to her marriage she lived at Pembroke Cottage, Newlyn (1879-81), and by the 1891 Census she was at 49 Trewarveth Street, Newlyn. After her marriage she and her husband moved to Maen Cottage, Elms Close Terrace, Newlyn and she stayed there after his death (in 1941) until 1960 when she moved to the Benoni Nursing Home in St Just.