On her return to South Africa in 1926 she established a sculpture studio – Ezayo - on the Coedmore estate where, between 1926 and 1940, she produced her finest work.
[2] Though credited with introducing a modern school of sculpture to South Africa during her early career, she was often criticized for her use of avant-garde images.
After service in a military drawing office during World War II she was appointed as head of the sculpture department at the Durban School of Art, where she lectured until 1957.
The Stainbank collection is generally regarded as the largest body of work by a single artist in South Africa to have remained intact.
She designed the Springbok trophy for the South African Polo Association[7] and produced the architectural decorations for the Port Elizabeth Magistrates' Court.