Mercy Hunter RUA

Mercy Hunter (1910-1989) was born in Belfast but as her parents were missionaries she grew up in Manchuria, China before travelling to Toronto Canada to attend secondary school.  She returned to Ireland to attend Belfast College of Art (1927-1929) where she won a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Art in London (1930-1933).

Specialising in calligraphy she created illustrations for books, was one of the founding members of the Ulster Society of Women Artists, became a member of the Royal Ulster Academy and served as its president (1975-1977). She also taught art in Dungannon High School for Girls, Banbridge Academy, Armagh High School and Victoria College in Belfast. Hunter was awarded an MBE (1970) and an honorary MA from Queens University Belfast (1975) with her work being exhibited in the Ulster Museum and the Grand Opera House, Belfast. The Ulster History Circle created a plaque in her honour in 2010.