ARTIST BIO

I am an artist living in Glenthompson at the Southern Grampians, Victoria. My artistic journey started by completing studies in Art at school. I was Inspired by both Italian and French masters, having no formal training my early works consisted of commissions for graphite sketches of works by Renaissance artists.  During my teens one of my graphite drawings was shortlisted from Australia Wide entries in the 1975 Faber Castell Prize and was exhibited in Sydney, this early achievement inspired me to pursue a life in art.

   My love of nature is  obvious in all my works, and over time I have gone  from graphite into watercolour and to oils.  I have had great success in shows in Australia and overseas.

An attention to detail is prominent in my all my work,  Looking so closely at living things you are suddenly aware of how complex, breathtaking and precious nature is, studying birds with their personalities and movement is a challenge I enjoy.

Living in this visually dramatic part of Victoria gives me an opportunity to observe a miriad of birds and observe their interaction with one another and to know their habits and their calls, especially the beautiful yellow tailed cockatoos who's special call tells me when they are close by or sitting in one of my Banksia trees eating the cones, it's wonderful being able to see them feeding up close. This and the beauty of the Grampians is what inspires my paintings.

I have been a member of various Botanical Art and Wildlife Art Groups over the years including Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Botanic Artists Society of Australia BASA, Wildlife Artist Society of Australia WASA, and others. 

I have won many Awards and have accepted various Commissions. Most of my works are in private collections around Australia and overseas

Exhibitions and Notable Awards

*Many and various Highly Commended etc.

2011 Ocean Grove art show – Best Painting 

2012 Exhibited at the Art of the Botanical, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne

2014 Exhibited work" Chrysanthamums" chosen FRBG (Friends of the Royal Botanic Gardens) 2014 calendar

2013 Exhibited with BASA, Royal Exhibition Building

2014 Peninsula Art Show- Best Watercolour

2015 Peninsula Art Show  - Best Watercolour

2016 Flinders art show - Best Flora and Fauna

2019 Coleraine Art & Photography Show - Honourable mention ( The Meeting Place)

2019 Coleraine Art & Photography Show - Honourable Mention ( Palm Cockatoos)

2019 Penshurst Art Show - Best in Show 

2019 Portland Art Show - Best Still Life

2019 Portland Art Show - Highly Commended

2019 Hamilton Art Show  - Best Local Artist

2020 Australian Watercolour Muster & International Fabriano in Aquarello, Italy, 1 of 32 from Australia 2020 for

         Fabriano in Aquarello, Italy, World Wide Exibition. 

2021 Penshurst Art - Best in Show 

2021 Ocean Grove Art Show - Best Flora and Fauna

2022  Penshurst Art Show  - Best in show  2022  Hamilton Art Show - Best watercolour

2023 Australian Watercolour Muster - Best Work on Substrate,  Cairns, Court House Gallery

2023  Penshurst Art Show - Best Watercolour

2023  Penshurst Art Show - Best in Show

2024 Penshurst Art Show - Best Watercolour

2024 Penshurst Art show - Highly commended