Elna Ernest obituary

http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/oct/07/elna-ernest-obituary

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My indomitable mother Elna Ernest, who has died aged 93, continued to paint her beloved abstracts right up to the end of her life.

She started painting at the age of 60, studied in London and Mexico and produced more than 1,000 works. The paintings are an exploration of geometric and rational forms showing her character and aesthetic sense. Her abstracts evolved over time and she produced some very beautiful pieces. Her colour sense was partly inspired by the landscapes of Spain; browns, ochres, reds, oranges and yellows were often used together. Her special feel for colour was reflected not only in her paintings, but also in the interior design of her homes and gardens, and in her colourful dress sense, which complemented her natural beauty.

Elna was active in the Mallorcan art scene and was selected in competition for 25 shows and won five prizes, as well as holding many one-person shows, including several at La Residencia hotel, Deya. She showed her work in Britain, Italy, Germany, Sweden and Spain, and is represented in collections in Israel and US.

The youngest of four children of Rut and Axel Adlerbert, Elna was born near Gothenburg, Sweden. She sailed to the US to visit her brother, Bo, in 1940 on what turned out to be the last ship out of Norway before the German invasion. Stuck there for the duration of the war, she won a president's scholarship to Cornell University, studying psychology and art history. She graduated swiftly and settled in New York, where she loved the jazz scene, and met musicians including Billie Holiday and Charlie Parker.

In 1943, Elna met and fell in love with John Ernest and married him. They arrived in London in 1951 after living for some years in Sweden, Paris and Antibes. John became an established constructivist artist while Elna completed her postgraduate studies in psychology with Hans Eysenck at the Maudsley. She was appointed principal clinical psychologist at Westminster hospital, where she ran the psychological services from 1955 until 1980.

John and Elna divorced in 1972 and the following year Elna bought a holiday home in Sóller, Mallorca. On retiring from the NHS, she moved there permanently. She was very generous, sponsoring young talents in the arts. Elna was an adventurous spirit, who lived life to the full. She visited most countries in the northern hemisphere, had friends on every continent, and was fluent in Swedish, English, French and Spanish.

She is survived by her children, me and Susan; grandchildren, Anya, Jane, Nuala and Roland; and great-grandchildren, Lisa and Nils.

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