BRENDA HENDERSON (1941-2024)
TRIBUTE TO AN INSPIRATIONAL ARTIST
This tribute is to the much admired and multi-talented artist Brenda Henderson who sadly passed away in 2024.
"I consider I will always be a student because I am always learning something new about Art and Design."
Brenda had been a prominent member of the Porcelain Artists Association of Western Australia (formerly the WA Guild of China Painters) since the early 1980s and received life membership in 1995 in recognition of her dedicated service to the arts and PAWA.
Boab Nut - Front & Rear View, handcrafted and painted by Brenda Henderson. Approximate size 15cm.
Brenda Henderson's stated ambition was for china painting to be looked upon as 'real painting' and she continued to encourage painters to take seriously the originality, design and content of their work.
shown above 'The Village Party' collection by Brenda
Brenda was born in Surrey, England and her interest in art was apparent from an early age. She began by taking pottery and then sculpture lessons in hobby classes while in the UK. In search of adventure Brenda migrated to Australia in 1967 where she met and married her husband Mike.
Settling in Perth in 1970, Brenda then embarked on more serious art studies commencing TAFE classes in 1974, and completed her diploma, majoring in Pottery. She later achieved a further diploma majoring in china painting, which comprised 4 years of study and two years of 'studio' in the 'Certificate in Onglaze Painting'. Brenda obtained the highest marks in the certificate in 1984, going on to teach china painting and design at Midland TAFE. Brenda completed her diploma in art studies in 1990.
Shown below is a beautiful piece of Brenda's work which was acquired by the WA Guild of China Painters' in 1999 for their own porcelain collection. 
'Gaia on Earth Watch'
30cm high vase,
intricately designed portraying GAIA the primordial Greek goddess of the Earth.
OTHER WORKS BY BRENDA
Widely known for her innovation, Brenda has worked with many different forms of art, including pen and wash, watercolour, glass, printmaking, drawing, oil painting and acrylics. She held several solo exhibitions, displaying her own clay shapes, with china painting and glass. Later Brenda exhibited as part of the 'Five Contemporary Onglaze Artists' with Heather Tailor, Gloria Paxman, Lucy Bertilone and Anne Blake at the Guildford Village Potters Gallery in Guildford WA.
Shown at right a figure created and decorated by Brenda.
Brenda's masks, shown below, were each given names -
1. Textures; 2. Winter; 3. unknown 4. Spring; 5. Dryad One
All photographs are © A Blake 2025 unless otherwise stated