Walter Paterson Meston was born in Scotland in 1870 and moved with his family to New Zealand in 1884. Before coming to Western Australia, around 1897, he was apprenticed to a signwriter in New Zealand. Once in Western Australia, he formed a partnership with Frank Walters, establishing the Kalgoorlie signwriting business of Meston and Walters Didit. The business relocated to Perth shortly afterwards, the partnership continuing until Meston’s death in 1936.
Largely self taught as an artist, he became a member and exhibitor of the West Australian Society of Arts in 1898, for which he was on council from 1920-27 and eventually became it’s President. He exhibited with the Western Institute of Artists in their only exhibition in 1921 and exhibited regularly with Phil Goatcher in the exhibition room located under the Town Hall.
He was highly regarded by his peers for his naturalistic style and skill. He is considered one of the four most important artists working in Perth in the 1890/1900’s. Having arrived here at a time when Perth was rapidly expanding he found a good market for his work which was by its nature in strong demand.
Our Heritage (1924) depicts the view from Kings Park up the Swan towards Nedlands. Historically it is an important document about our culture and is one of the few images that talks about both the city and the landscape. There are very few paintings of this calibre before the turn of the century due to the lack of competent artists in Perth at the time.