I was born in Sydney and raised in the St George District with one older brother. After raising my own family of four children in the Sutherland Shire I lived in the Southern Highlands for several years and now live in Appin NSW.
I began pencil drawing at 6 and discovered a love for creating my own artwork. Following schooling to Intermediate Certificate level I was apprenticed at age 15 to a leading signwriting firm. I have had a paint brush in my hand most days of my life ever since.
While learning the signwriting trade all aspects were covered especially Pictorial Art and Graphic Design. I graduated with Honours at Sydney TAFE and won the NSW State Craftsmanship Medal in 1957.
10 years later I started my own signwriting business called Talent Advertising, which was successful for 7 years. I was then employed by Pacific Film Laboratories as the Manager of the Signwriting Section of the in-house Advertising Division for 2.5 years before returning to self-employment for another 2.5 years.
In 1980 I commenced work as a teacher of Signwriting and Pictorial Art at Sydney TAFE in Ultimo. I obtained my Diploma of Teaching and taught full time for 16 years until retirement and then a further 3 years as a part-time teacher. During this period I worked alongside some talented colleagues and helped shape the early careers of some gifted young signwriters. I was also an active member of the Signwriters Guild, which fostered traditional brush skills.
As for recreational art, I began painting local scenes around Sydney in the 1970’s as my children grew older and time away from my business allowed. I worked in all mediums and all types of subject matter to broaden my skills and experiment with style. I attended short art courses, including in Millthorpe NSW where I acquired a real taste for landscape painting. However, real improvement did not occur until a friend showed me the Meldrum method of tonal realism and the indisputable value of working from life.
I am a Life Member of the Bowral District Art Society, a Fellow of the Royal Art Society of NSW and an Exhibiting Member of The Australian Society of Marine Artists. I exhibit with these and other art societies on a regular basis and enter numerous art competitions every year.
Most notable finalist achievements:
• Fishers Ghost Prize, Campbelltown, NSW
• Norville Landscape Prize, Murrurundi, NSW – 2 times.
• Glover Landscape Prize, Evandale, TAS – 2 times.
• Goulburn Art Prize, Goulburn, NSW – several times.
• Berkelouw Portrait Prize, Bowral, NSW – 4 times.
• Mosman Art Prize, Mosman, NSW – 3 times.
• Winner, People’s Choice, Copes Prize, Bowral, NSW.
• ANL Marine Prize, Mission to Seafarers, VIC – 7 times hung and Winner in 2009
• Winner, President’s Medal, Australian Society of Marine Artists, 2009 and 2015.
• Commendations in Art Prizes in Bowral, Tumut, Nowra and The Royal Motor Yacht Club, Sydney.
My works are owned by collectors in Australia and overseas. I also created the public town mural at Bundanoon, NSW in 2002.
I have held 12 solo exhibitions since 2000 in several venues, notably at the Royal Art Society, NSW in the Lavender Bay Gallery – “Moods of the Flinders” and at the Balmain Watch House – “The Vision Splendid” with 65 works. Fortunately, all exhibitions have been well received with a high percentage of sales.
I am a Founder of the Berrima Plein-Air Painting Group in 2005. I have participated in 5 exhibitions with this group since 2008. The essential theme of such exhibitions is local Artists depicting local scenes in the spontaneous Plein-Air style.
