Gwenyth Ewens (1916 -1995), while born in Claremont, was from a family born and bred in Fremantle’s West End. She was passionate about art from a young age and won several drawing competitions. On leaving school she began training in commercial art but found herself drawn into the more mathematical field of drafting. She was one of only a handful of women to enrol to study architecture at Perth Technical School and went on to study glass in building construction and illumination for a number of years. 
 
Ewens became an authority in the field of how glass could be used in the modern home for structural, functional and decorative purposes. She was awarded a Fellowship to the Lighting Engineers of Australia for her significant contributions to the art/science of illumination.  

In 1987 Ewens contacted the Fremantle City Council wishing to donate $1,000 to start an art competition for Fremantle children, to help them appreciate the beautiful buildings there. The inaugural Gwenyth Ewens Art Award in 1989 themed “Historic Buildings in Fremantle,” was open to high school students. She was so delighted with the enthusiastic response, over 60 entries from 3 local schools, that she set up a $4,000 trust fund and the competition became an annual Fremantle event.  
 
At her death on February 15th 1995, she left a $75,000 bequest to the City of Fremantle to continue to fund the annual art competition for primary school children and hopefully inspire young people into artistic professions, just as she was.