Olley, who was 88, was completing work for a solo show due to open in September.

Over a career spanning more than six decades, the Lismore-born artist became one Australia's most lauded and loved artists.

Olley was a generous arts benefactor who donated many works to public galleries over the years, including the Art Gallery of NSW and contributed towards its purchase of Cezanne's Bord De La Marne three years ago.

The painter often made the interior of her exuberant home in Duxford Street the subject of her still-life works.

With its flowers, fruit, vases, books and ashtrays, the over-flowing house has long been a mecca for Sydney's artists, bohemians and intellectuals.

As well as being a prolific artist, Olley has also been one of the most-painted figures in Australian art.

Her portrait by Ben Quilty won this year's Archibald Prize. William Dobell's portrait of her won the prize in 1948.

Russell Drysdale, Donald Friend, Jeffrey Smart and Judy Cassab have also painted Olley.

Olley was a free-spirited and independent woman who never married or had children. It was not a role she was cut out for, she said.

She once described herself as "a one-woman band, too independent to be subservient to anyone".

But she had a number of enduring friendships, including with Friend who once described her as "sensible and sensitive and tender, stubborn and intelligent, proud, simple and complicated".

Olley grew up on sugar-cane farms in northern NSW and Queensland. At 19 she began studying art at East Sydney Technical College where "my life began, I was like a flower suddenly pollinated".

She held her first solo show in 1948 and more than 90 others have followed.

She battled alcohol in her early years and depression in later but defeated both.

She continued to paint most days.

Asked to describe her body of work once she replied: "I never see myself fitting in anywhere. I just like to lose myself in the work, let the painting take over."