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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

Not your average teacher’s pet!

Australian Love Stories online
 

She was his ‘greatest student’ but in the end Ivy Shore chose between Graeme Inson, her life’s love – and art, her life’s work.

Ivy Shore
Artist, Mr. Graeme Inson in his studio in Sussex St. City, 26 June 1975 Sydney Morning Herald © Sydney Morning Herald
1 Ivy Shore, 1961 Graeme Inson. © Harvey Shore, Currently on display. 2 Artist, Mr. Graeme Inson in his studio in Sussex St. City, 26 June 1975 Sydney Morning Herald © Sydney Morning Herald.

A handwritten note accompanied Graeme Inson’s 1961 portrait of Ivy Shore, donated to the National Portrait Gallery in 2014: ‘Ivy in an orange raincoat … at the beginning of our relationship and amidst a turbulent break-up of an unhappy marriage’. It was this break-up that led Shore to take up painting lessons, and her teacher and mentor Inson subsequently moved in with his ‘greatest student’. But Ivy’s work found success as she departed from Graeme’s strict ‘Meldrum’ method in developing her own style, creating tension between her two loves. Shore maintained harmony by building a studio away from Inson’s disapproving eye, and entering the women-only Portia Geach prize (rather than competing against Graeme in the Archibald). In the end, Ivy sacrificed her creative outlet, giving up painting in 1993 for the sake of the relationship.

That’s one to get your heart started! You are 9 stories away from seeing your love score...

Choose your next love story

Self portrait with scarf
Self portrait with scarf
Self portrait with scarf
Self portrait with scarf

Bunny’s side-honey 

Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol
Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol
Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol
Thomas and John Clarke, bushrangers, photographed in Braidwood Gaol

Brothers in harms

Stephen, Russell and David Page
Stephen, Russell and David Page
Stephen, Russell and David Page
Stephen, Russell and David Page

Creative kin

After Jack
After Jack
After Jack
After Jack

Frames for his life’s love

Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC
Roy and HG: John Doyle as Roy Slaven (L) and Grieg Pickhaver as HG Nelson: in studio (radio), c. 1990 Reproduced by permission of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation – Library Sales. © 1990 ABC

A bromance in banter

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

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