St Mary's Church, Kalibooka Valley

Constance Frederica Gordon Cumming was the twelfth of sixteen children of the Chief of a Scottish clan. Her family were patrons of the Arts and Cumming was encouraged to develop her artistic talents. In 1868 she accepted an invitation to join a married sister and her husband in India where she spent a year travelling and painting. She returned to Europe but did not stay long in England, for she accepted an invitation from the Bishop of Colombo to pay him an extended visit in Sri Lanka. Cumming remained there for two years, travelling and spending much time painting watercolours 'on the principle of never a day without (sic.) at least one careful-coloured sketch', (C.F.G. Cumming, Two Happy Years in Ceylon, Edinburgh and London, 1892, vol.I, p.5.)