[2] Neill had been a barrister at the Inner Temple, London, but lost his inheritance due to a poor decision by a trustee, and gave up his law career.

Malcolm married Emilie Monson Wilton, the daughter of a retired army colonel in 1848, and they emigrated to New Zealand two years later, arriving on the SS Victory in February 1850.

Growing up in such an isolated location was challenging, but Osborne's mother Emilie recognised artistic talents in her daughter at an early stage, and ordered art materials from Auckland.

[2] In 1874 Fanny Malcolm, aged 21, eloped with the 26 year-old AJ Osborne after a three-year secret relationship; they were married 15 January 1874 by Bishop Cowie at Bishopscourt in Parnell.

However, over a period of some decades her work reached the highest quality and is now greatly appreciated from both artistic and scientific points of view.

[2] Her paintings of the Adams mistletoe (Trilepidia adamsii) are particularly important as this species is now considered extinct, and no colour photographs of it exist.

Towards end of her life she was crippled with arthritis, and moved to the mainland to live with her daughters Constance and Winifred only reluctantly, when she was aged 77.