Updated 16th April 2010

Viola Edith "Brownie" Downing

Brownie was born  on the 9th of May 1924 and died the 16th of May 1995. After finishing High school she attended the Sydney Technical Art School and in 1947 attended course at the Julian Ashton's Art School. She was well known for her art work of Aboriginal children and native wildlife and her Children's book Tinka and His Friends. As she spent part of her life overseas never returning to Australia her work also included international children.

Her first book Tinka and His Friends sold 60,000 copies and won The Daily Telegraph Children's book of the year award. Other books she wrote are :

• A Tale of Mischief.
• Tinka and the Bunyip.
• Children of the Dreaming.

During the Fifties she had success with creating many designs for Christmas cards, prints and pottery which turned into commercial success.

For a more information about Brownie below is a link to her Obituary taken from The Australian newspaper.

ARTIST BELIEVED IN THE WORLD'S MAGIC

http://inicia.es/de/timmansfield/Brownie/Pages/home.htm