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Born in Co Waterford, Ireland, the artist is known to have studied at the Penzance School of Art and Heatherleys, and to have exhibited at the RCPS at Falmouth in 1889-90.   In private ownership are a number of her watercolours, inserted into large notebooks, depicting European cityscapes.  More recently, three of her works of Australia have been listed on the Australian Arts Sales Digest as sold.

From about 1902 she came to went to live in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, and married William Meredith.  In 1927 she moved to Burton on Trent and she died at Keynsham where she lived with her daughter and son-in-law.

 Sophie was well-travelled on the continent and elsewhere, and was particularly well known for her landscapes of Belgium, Italy, and interiors of Cathedrals.  One of her paintings is of Truro Cathedral, and belongs to the collection there.

She was commissioned to paint a miniature landscape, as several of the Cornish artists were, for ‘a famous Dolls’ House’. (Queen Mary's Dolls House) 

Da Costa's full name was John Henry Alphonse Frederick Francis Da Costa.  He was born at Teignmouth, Devon (28 December 1866 GRO), and listed as a Newlyn resident in the 1891 Census as living at Cliff Castle Cottage in Belle Vue (1896), the address from which he sent-in to the RA and Manchester. This was the house of Henry and Elizabeth Maddern, where many artists lodged before.

With him in 1891 are recorded Mary Josephine Da Costa, a widow (possibly mother) from Metz, Germany, and Oscar M J Da Costa of the 21st Hussars from St Helier, Jersey. John is listed as a Fine Arts Student from Teignmouth, Devon. He exhibited with the Cornish painters at Dowdeswells in 1890, with Beg, Sir and with A Pastoral at Nottingham Castle in 1894. His sales record at NAG is sparse, showing the sale of only one work, A Study.  [All of these catalogues are reprinted in Hardie (2009).]

By 1897 Da Costa is mentioned by Norman GARSTIN in his article in the Studio 'as being no longer among us' and bemoaning the fact. From Newlyn he moved to London, later to Oxfordshire, and then to various addresses in Kensington and Chelsea.  By 1904 he was running his own art school classes in Kensington, London (Studio), with the help of his Newlyn friend Samuel Green ENDERBY.  The artist died in London on 26 May, 1931, age 64 (GRO).

The artist was an active seller at NAG exhibitions.  In 1896 she exhibited and sold Carnations in the Sketch Exhibition (Sixth), and Sweet Sultans and Carnations in 1897.  In 1900 she sold Homeward Bound and a Sketch. Other purchased titles include Polperro (1901), Street in St Keverne (1902), Foggy Morning (1903) and Lands End (1903). The standard reference books do not list her name.

Resident in Cornwall in 1921, as his portrait of Arthur MEADE (featured on Show Day in that year) reveals, he did not exhibit with STISA until 1929. His studio, close to the old lifeboat station, is featured in Francis John ROSKRUGE's Map of the Studios for Show Day 1929. His name does not appear in standard reference books. No further information is currently available.