Eleanor Catherine Sperrey was born on 7 January 1862 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia to Eleanor (née Maunder) and John Sperrey.
The following year, her family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where her father, who had been a timber merchant, was engaged in the sub-treasurer's office as a clerk.
In 1865, her mother died and Kate was raised by her father.
She began studies at Otago Girls' High School in 1873, and studied art with David Con Hutton, principal of the Otago School of Art.
She submitted work to the Intercolonial Juvenile Industrial Exhibition at Melbourne in 1880 and won a silver medal.
Around 1881, Sperrey traveled to Rome to study portraiture with Giuseppe Ferrari.
Her study of an Italian goatherd won a gold medal in the Prix de Rome competition, and was considered her masterpiece.
Before she returned home to New Zealand, Sperrey also studied in London and Paris.
Eleanor Catherine Sperrey was born on 7 January 1862 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia to Eleanor (née Maunder) and John Sperrey. The following year, her family moved to Dunedin, New Zealand, where her father, who had been a timber merchant, was engaged in the sub-treasurer's office as a clerk. In 1865, her mother died and Kate was raised by her father. She began studies at Otago Girls' High School in 1873, and studied art with David Con Hutton, principal of the Otago School of Art. She submitted work to the Intercolonial Juvenile Industrial Exhibition at Melbourne in 1880 and won a silver medal. Around 1881, Sperrey traveled to Rome to study portraiture with Giuseppe Ferrari. Her study of an Italian goatherd won a gold medal in the Prix de Rome competition, and was considered her masterpiece. Before she returned home to New Zealand, Sperrey also studied in London and Paris.
Kate Sperrey