Art2Muse

Artworks available to view in Sydney

As a full time practicing artist my pursuit to develop a versatility of skills is overwhelming. Presently, my studio lends itself to working on both large and small pieces and offers a great source of light. Many previous years were spent completing large commissions for public places and private homes in and around Sydney.

Undoubtedly influenced by the Australian landscape, my paintings are often heavily textured with rich layers of transparent and opaque colour. A collection of unique and found objects also form a part of my work where they are applied to the surface with the aid of textures, colour, scratching and gouging. Whilst once quite a traditionalist, abstraction appeals as a compromising balance to apply structural components, textures and subtle hues.

Large charcoal drawings encompass my love of old tools which are often enlarged to major proportion and well worked with rubbing, scrubbing and smudging.

Over the past four years I have been tutoring Year 12 students at St. Ignatius College (Riverview) in Sydney which has been rewarding as has been delivering a 3 day workshop each year to the Year 11 students. It is very satisfying to be able to pass on skills in applying textures and the working up of surfaces. It not only shortens the journey of practice but also demonstrates how skilled the young mind is in adapting to a learning environment.

At the time of writing I have just completed a commission for a venue in Shelllharbour (south of Sydney). A friend, Philippa Joyce and myself had a most successful exhibition at Icon Gallery in South Dowling Street, Redfern. During difficult times we were thrilled with the attendance and the response.

Having received an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts (major in painting) I continued my studies in Advanced Printmaking for some years after graduating. Over the years several short courses have been undertaken elsewhere including National Art School and Bundanon/Riversdale Education Centre.

Prizes include Lloyd Rees Prize, Hunter’s Hill prize for Drawing and Blacktown City Art Prize for Drawing.

Here’s hoping the greatest artistic achievement is still to come along with an expanding vocabulary of techniques.

Education

2004 - 2005 - Advanced Study in Printmaking -Sydney Gallery School
2003 - Advanced Diploma of Fine Arts at Sydney Gallery
School - Major in Painting/Drawing
2002 - Diploma Of Fine Arts - Sydney Gallery School
2004 - 2006 - National Art School, Short Courses
1985 - 2000 - Various courses - Sydney Gallery School
Willandra Art Centre & Workshop Arts Centre, Willoughby

Commendations and Prizes

2011 - Finalist Dobell Prize for Drawing
2011 - Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2009 - FIRST PRIZE - Sydney Olympic Park Authority-Professional
Development - Residency Newington Armory
2005 - 2007 No Prizes Entered
2004 - Finalist - “Museum Light Up Sydney” Exhibition
2003 - Salon Selected Finalist - Tafe NSW Art & Design Prize
2003 - FIRST PRIZE - Drawing Section - Hunter's Hill Art Exhibition
2002 - FIRST PRIZE - Blacktown City Council Art Awards
Drawing/Printmaking Section - Drawing
2002 - Commended - Blacktown City Council Art Awards
Drawing/Printmaking Section - Etching
2001 - Lloyd Rees Prize
2000 - FIRST PRIZE - Still Life Section - City of Ryde Art Awards - painting
2000 - FIRST PRIZE - Small Painting - Lane Cove - painting
2000 - FINALIST - Art of Sydney Awards, Maritime Museum - painting
1999 - Commended - Lane Cove Art Society - painting
1999 - FIRST PRIZE - Lane Cove - painting
1999 - NATIONAL FINALIST - The Art Scene Competition- painting
1997 - Commended - Hunter’s Hill Art Prize - painting
1994 - Commended - Ryde Art Society - painting
1994 - Commended - Hunter’s Hill Art Prize - painting
1993 - Commended - Ryde Art Society - painting
1993 - Special award by Joshua Smith - painting

Commissions and Collections

2011 - Shellharbour Workers’ Club - 10 square metres of paintings
2011 - Mon Komo Development - Qld - 33 metres of paintings
2008 - Manly Pacific Hotel - 4 Charcoal Nudes 2 metres x 1.2 metres
2008 - Manly Pacific Hotel - 3 Painting Installations
2008 - Dooleys Lidcombe - Painting Installation 2 metres x 1.6 metres
2008 - Le Tratt Restaurant - 3 Paintings
2007 - Ballina RSL Club - Installation of 5 Paintings (approx 4 metres x 1.2)
2007 - Canterbury Leagues Club (Bulldogs) Paintings
1)4.60 metres x 0.9 metres - one painting
2)2.70 metres x 0.9 metres - 2 paintings
3)5.45 metres x 0.75 metres - 1 painting
4)1.50 metres x 1.0 metre - 3 Paintings

2007 - Ballina RSL - Installation 5 Paintings ( 4 metres x 1.2 metres)
2007 - Canterbury Leagues Club - 3 Painting Installations (1.5 x 1 metre) each
2006 - Bateau Bay Bowling Club - 1 Installation 4 metres x 1.8 metres
2006 - Fairfield RSL - 1 Outdoor Installation- 5.4 metres x 1.4 metres
2005 - Luxury Catamaran - 5 Paintings for each sleeping cabin
2005 - Castle Hill RSL - 1 Installation 4.2 metres x 4 metres
1 Installation 3.5 metres x 1.5 metres
1 Installation 4 metres x 0.9 metres
2005 - Concrete Recyclers 1 Painting 2.4 metres x 1 metre
2005 - Cronulla Sharks - 1 Painting 3.2 metres x 0.7 metres
2003 - Mattara Hotel - Total of 4 large Installations
2003 - Pyrmont Point Hotel - Installations and Paintings (Total 7)
2003 - Eastern Suburbs Leagues Club - 8 Installations - several sizes
2003 - Balmain Rehabilitation Services - 7 Paintings

Other Collections

Sydney Gallery School
Commissioned works for private homes - including several countries
- USA, Norway, Italy, Ireland, England and New Zealand.

2008 to 2011 has been spent part time tutoring at St. Ignatius College
Riverview) to HSC Art Students as well as presenting a 3 day workshop each
year to Year 11 students over a 3 day period. Private tutoring of HSC students
has also been taking up a large portion of time during 2009 and 2010.

Solo Exhibitions

2011 - “The Contemporary Canvas” with Philippa Joyce at The Icon Gallery, Redfern
2004 - 2008 1 + 2 Studios
1997 - Stavanger, Norway

Group Exhibitions

2011 - “Most” Exhibition and Open Studio
2008 - 2010 Various exhibitions - May St Studios, St. Peter’s
2005 - 2008 Various exhibitions - 1 + 2 Artist Studios (Group and Solo)
2004 - “Being There” National Art School (by Invitation)
2004 - The Sydney Gallery School - Graduate Exhibition
2004 - Museums Light Up Sydney Exhibition - The Muse (Invitation)
2004 - Arts North (Nth Sydney Institute of Tafe Permanent Art
Collection) (by Invitation)
2004 - “Connections” Global Gallery
2003 - “e-mergence” Global Gallery
2003 - “Locale” Parramatta Heritage Centre
2002 - Graduating Students Exhibition, Sydney Gallery School
2001 - Combined Teachers and Students Exhibition, Sydney Gallery School
(by invitation)
2001 - Students Exhibition - Sydney Gallery School
2000 - The Gallery Cafe, Annandale
1999 - Lyndon Albert Gallery, Windsor