John Laurence Rentoul,[2] an Irish-born Presbyterian minister and academic, and his wife Annie Isobel (née Rattray).

At the time of her birth, her father was a professor at Ormond College, University of Melbourne, and later moderator-general of his church between 1912 and 1914.

Her first illustration was published by New Idea magazine in 1903 when she was just 15 years of age – it accompanied a story written by her older sister, Annie Rattray Rentoul.

In a number of cases, her children – Robert, Anne, Wendy and William – served as models for her illustrations.

[11] Her work is depicted in four stained glass windows in an adjoining hall at St Mark's Anglican Church in Fitzroy, Victoria.