From the fabulous Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Born in 1955 (same year as Greg Norman, Kevin Costner and Rowan Atkinson). One day when I was a lot, lot younger – (we are talking early 1960s here) I was kept home from school because I was sick. Mum bought me a little tin kid's paintbox to play with. From that day on I became the greatest actress that ever was, rubbing my face with talcum powder to make it look as though I was very sick so I could stay home from school so I could paint. I will never forget that watercolour smell of that paint box and still stick my nose into a tube of watercolour! (just did it now!)
ART EDUCATION.
Well, I won some prizes at school, and many years later , I attended a part time art class that lasted for 6 weeks, 2 or 3 hours a day. After that I just randomly painted and pursued my day job. About 4 years ago I enrolled in a Bachelor of Fine Art University Course (Curtin University Australia) and completed the First Unit – leaving 23 more units to finish. Being the impatient person that I am, I ditched that course – although the good part is that I scored a High Distinction which is an Honours mark. So that was good. Basically that was the only tutelage/education I had, that and a few watercolour courses. Oh and a day with the Late and great Australian watercolour artist Robert Wade
MEDIUMS
I love watercolour, I adore watercolour. I love the sensuous way it wends it’s way around the paper – swirling, mingling, making new colours, and sometimes, I love stopping it in it’s tracks and helping it find another way. I love it’s looseness and I also like to control it. It is an amazing thing. I love ink, scratchy and yummy full on blobs. I love using both in one painting, I love paper. Professional paper, good paper, handmade paper, torn paper, cut paper, Also a fan of mixed media. I use professional artist quality materials.
AWARDS
1996 Noosa Art Award - Watercolour Section – First (my first Exhibition entered)
1996 Redlands Art Award - Watercolour Section - Highly Commended for use of light
1998 Marymount Art Festival - Watercolour Section – First (I think another one came after this)
1999 Royal Queensland Art Society
Encouragement Award
1999 and two more years after that
Trinity Lutheran College Art Exhibition – only two Awards existed in this Exhibition -First Overall Award of Excellence and Emerging Artist I was fortunate enough to win 2 First Awards of Excellence and another First in the Emerging Artist in a few years
2000 Hinterland Heritage Art Festival
Highly Commended Award
2000 The Grand Golf Club "Art on a Grand Canvas" Top Ten finalist “. My watercolour was of Greg Norman, who designed this first class golf course.
Bidders called in from England, Hong Kong and America. The bidding stopped prematurely as the line fell out…..the last bid was for a very, very good price, and I often wonder how high the bidding would have gone had the phone line not dropped out.
1999 Royal Queensland Art Society - Encouragement Award
EXHIBITED/HUNG
1999 Bhudevi Art Show Gold Coast joint private exhibition
Watling Gallery Gold Coast
Lotus Gallery Gold Coast
Maleney Art Gallery Sunshine Coast
B C Gallery of Fine Art, Gold Coast
Marina Mirage Art Gallery Gold Coast
New Zealand On Art
Jabiru Gallery Sanctuary Cove Gold Coast
Daydream Island Resort Northern Queensland, Australia
Paintings used in décor in the renovation of Daydream Island 2002, through Gold Coast architect Desmond Brookes.
Scouted by Fine Art America by renowned artist the Late and great artist, and award-winning TV show host of“Colour in Your Life” Graeme Stevenson OAM.
This venture did not come to fruition.
PRESS
Gold Coast Bulletin
Gold Coast Bulletin Gold Coast Aus. 1999 - Arts section ..... article “Three Into One Goes” Holly-Kelsey Henry (
Gold Coast Bulletin Aus. 2000 "High Rollers Brush Shoulders With Art" (The Grand Golf Course Gold Coast "Art on a Grand Canvas"" Unknown Journalist
Gold Coast Bulletin Weekender Aus. 2000 "Sue Goes Solo on Inspiration".... by Jo Hales
Australian Artist Magazine - unknown year, painting published.
Canterbury Television interview, Christchurch NZ
PRESS
Australian Artist Magazine – unknown year, one painting published.
1999 Gold Coast Bulletin Weekender Arts Section March 6-7 “Three into one goes”
Canterbury Television interview – Christchurch
2000 Gold Coast Bulletin 7 April “High rollers brush shoulders with Art”
2001 Gold Coast Bulletin Weekender Arts Section December 16-17 “Sue Goes Solo on Inspiration”
AWARDS
1996 Noosa Art Award - Watercolour Section - First
1996 Redlands Art Awards - Watercolour Section - Highly Commended
1998 Marymount Art Festival - Watercolour Section 1st
1999 Marymount Art Festival - Watercolour Section - Highly Commended
1999 Trinity Lutheran College Art Exhibition - Overall Award of Excellence - Emerging Artist
2000 Grant Golf Club "Art on a Grand Canvas" - top ten finalist with work attaining highest bid
2000 Hinterland Heritage Festival - Highly Commended
and later the Overall Award of Excellence for Trinity Lutheran College (1st) again - won twice more. (sorry can't remember years)