Nellie Irene Hill was born in 1910. At the age of fifteen years she won a scholarship to Dudley School of Arts & Crafts and studied a three year comprehensive course which included embroidery from her own designs, jewellery, painting on wooden articles and embossed leatherwork. Her main interest was in botanical studies. When the general depression came in 1926 she was compelled to leave art school. She was the sixth of eight children and her parents could no longer afford her fees so, she trained as a shorthand typist. Many years later, a sister suggested she should start painting again and when her two daughters saw her efforts – mainly flowers and flower arrangements - they gave her encouragement by selling her work in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Peru, Canada, America and the UK. During the latter years she was self-taught and at the age of 106 years still enjoys painting watercolours of flowers and autumn foliage.