Beneath the River Red Gum

The final rays of the setting sun illuminate an ancient river red gum standing proudly before the rugged walls of South Australia's Flinders Ranges. Warm evening light washes across the mountains and plains while long shadows stretch over the grasses, marking the close of another day in one of Australia's oldest landscapes.

At first glance, the scene celebrates the timeless beauty of the Australian bush. Yet a closer look reveals a fallen kangaroo in the foreground—a quiet reminder that, alongside beauty, exists the perpetual cycle of life, death and renewal. The ancient gum tree stands as a silent witness to countless seasons, droughts, storms and generations of wildlife that have lived beneath its branches.

Painted in oils, this work explores the contrast between fleeting moments of light and the enduring resilience of the Australian landscape.

PRODUCT GUARANTEE
These paintings are handcrafted and individually made and not mass produced.
Paintings are photographed in a professional studio setup to retain fidelity of colour to the original painting. However slight variations might occur due to lighting, digital photography and monitor settings.
Copyright Christopher Vidal (2026)
Artist has copyright on this original painting so it may not be copied in any way.
This original artwork can be resold by the buyer

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Christopher Vidal is an artist based in Australia whose paintings have been featured in exhibitions nationally. Identifying as a contemporary realist, both his distinctive landscapes and still-life paintings are recognizable representations of reality. Through his works, Vidal hopes that the viewer will share the experience with him, establishing a connection not only with the subject but also with mother nature.

A Maltese-born migrant located in Sydney, his interest in arts started in early childhood. He attended the School of Arts at Palazzo de La Salle in Malta, for 3 years in the mid-1980s. After finishing his academic studies, for 25 years, Chris worked as a scientist in various laboratories and as a medical researcher in Malta and Australia. After a lifelong career in science, he is now a full-time professional artist.

Chris enjoys painting various subjects using various media, however, he is more focused on painting landscapes in oils or acrylics. He finds that when painting the landscape he connects to his innate love for science, environment and arts.

Through landscape painting, he feels himself connected to nature. His skill is continuously developing and is driven by his personal observation of what is around him which inspires him and then he translates on the canvas using paint.

Through his work, Chris wants to deliver a message to everyone who sees or owns his work. Apart from sharing his own travelling experiences of places that maybe not everyone manages to see, the message is about the beauty of being alive on this planet and enjoying living every moment of it. We exist for a very insignificant amount of time and hence we need to do the best out of it while not forgetting that we are part of nature and hence act responsibly to care for it and to leave it unharmed for future generations to enjoy.

Chis is also a tutor and he teaches drawing and painting to adults and children in several locations around Sydney. His works are found in private and corporate collections in Australia and around the world.